Regular connoisseurs of Vietnamese food are familiar with pho, the tasty noodle soup served in restaurants around the world. While the dish is widely accepted as one of the best-loved Vietnamese staples, many diners are confused about its pronunciation. Learn the right way to order the flat noodles the next time you’re out, as well as a bit of the dish’s history, with the helpful guide below.

A Beginner’s Guide to Pho

What is Pho?

Although pho’s international popularity has skyrocketed over the last decade, the soup has been around since the mid-1800s, when the dish first appeared in Hanoi, Vietnam. At the time, it was commonly eaten as a breakfast food. The term “pho” actually refers to the long, flat noodle used to make the soup, though it is widely used to refer to the entire dish. Both pho bo (a soup made with beef broth) and pho ga (produced with chicken broth) continue to be popular today.

Despite pho’s Vietnamese origin, many experts suspect the soup also has French roots. In fact, this explanation could shed light on the word’s pronunciation, “fuh.”

Why is it Pronounced “Fuh?”

While Vietnamese dishes historically featured pork, the nation began embracing beef under French colonial rule, which began in 1858. The French are also known for their pot-au-feu, in which “feu” is pronounced “fuh.” This Burgundian soup featuring beef and vegetables is believed to have been adopted by the Vietnamese and updated to incorporate the beloved noodles we know today. The other competing theory claims that the dish originated among Cantonese immigrants living in Hanoi.

No matter how you say it, you can enjoy pho at Pho’Vietnam in Anchorage, AK. With an extensive menu of authentic Vietnamese food, including delectable appetizers, entrees, and vegetarian options, this restaurant has multiple locations and offers both carry-out and dine-in cuisine. Explore their menu online or call (907) 929-9938 to make a reservation.