tổ

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [to˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tow˧˨]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tow˨˩˦]

From Proto-Vietic *suh (“nest”). Compare Proto-Katuic *soh (“nest”) (whence Pacoh xouh (“abandoned hive”)).

See also ổ.

tổ • (組)

1. (usually of birds or insects) a nest

Sino-Vietnamese word from 組.

tổ

1. (of schoolchildren or workers) a group or team that is divided from a larger body merely for management
2. the lowest subdivision of a thành phố trực thuộc tỉnh or quận, below khối

Sino-Vietnamese word from 祖.

tổ

1. ancestor; forefather
2. forefather; patron saint; founder

   tổ nghề mộc ― the founder of woodworking

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Probably etym 3 above.”)

tổ

1. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (colloquial) only