Vietnamese

noun

Viet·​nam·​ese vē-ˌet-nə-ˈmēz How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio)
ˌvyet-,
ˌvē-ət- How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio)
ˌvēt-,
-na-,
-nä-,
-ˈmēs How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio)
plural Vietnamese
1
: a native or inhabitant of Vietnam
2
: the language of the largest group in Vietnam and the official language of the country
Vietnamese adjective

Examples of Vietnamese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bánh mì, Vietnam A culinary remnant of French colonialism, the baguette sandwich was reinterpreted to their own taste by the Vietnamese. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2025 But over the last decade, the foods of the state’s longest-standing immigrant communities — Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Middle Eastern, among others — have become engines of creativity for a new generation of chefs cooking from their heritage. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 Cognitive disability is more prevalent in Vietnamese, Filipino and Japanese older adults, according to a paper last year in Innovation in Aging. Claire Wang, NBC news, 11 June 2025 Some of the Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese breaks are insane! Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Vietnamese

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vietnamese was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vietnamese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vietnamese. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Vietnamese

noun
Viet·​nam·​ese vē-ˌet-nə-ˈmēz How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio) ˌvyet- How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio) ˌvē-ət- How to pronounce Vietnamese (audio)
ˌvēt-,
-na-,
-nä,
-ˈmēs
plural Vietnamese
1
: a person born or living in Vietnam
2
: the official language of Vietnam
Vietnamese adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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