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.
As many as three million Vietnamese have been affected by Agent Orange, including more than 150,000 children born with serious developmental problems. Damien Cave, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 In alphabetical order: Basilic Vietnamese Grill, 218 E. Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: Routine inspection, 27 total violations, eight High Priority violations. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025 In a surprise appearance, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan wished the crowd happy new year in Chinese and Vietnamese and echoed Lugtu’s appreciation for culture. Autumn Alvarez, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025 The city now provides materials in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Filipino/Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Laotian and Vietnamese. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Vietnamese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vietnamese. Accessed 27 Feb. 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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