Abstract

The article is based on theories of address, including concepts, forms of address in Vietnamese, and a survey of address terms in some folktales from “The Treasury of Vietnamese Folktales” by Nguyen Dong Chi to classify different address forms. From this categorization, we identified six address forms used by characters in Vietnamese folktales: by other combinations, by kinship nouns, by personal pronouns, by names, by titles, and by other terms. The address forms in Vietnamese folktales are not just ways of calling names but also reflect cultural values, respect for elders, deities, and family members. They express veneration, social status distinctions, and reverence for high-ranking characters while fostering closeness in folk culture. These linguistic forms help build character traits and relationships, making Vietnamese folktales vibrant and relatable to everyday life.