The word Tonkinese typically refers to a breed of cat, but it can also be used to describe the language spoken in Tonkin, Vietnam. Synonyms for Tonkinese when used to describe the cat breed include Siamese-Burmese, Burmese-Siamese, and Tonkanese. These terms describe the cat's mixed heritage, as the breed is a cross between the Burmese and Siamese breeds. When referring to the language, other synonyms for Tonkinese include northern Vietnamese and Hanoi dialect. These terms are used to distinguish the language from other dialects spoken in Vietnam, such as southern Vietnamese.