Vietnamese

noun

Viet·​nam·​ese vē-ˌet-nə-ˈmēz 

ˌvyet-,

ˌvē-ət- 

ˌvēt-,

-na-,

-nä-,

-ˈmēs 

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

Money has also poured into this acrimonious race as Steel has questioned Tran’s proficiency in Vietnamese — an important point for the district’s influential bloc of Vietnamese voters — and sought to link him to the Chinese Community Party in ads. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

With Vietnamese Americans, Harris invoked the stories of many in the community who fled to the U.S. as South Vietnam fell to the Viet Cong in 1975. —Yash Roy, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024

Many are also newer immigrants, so specific ethnicity — Korean or Vietnamese, for example — is more of an identity than simply being Asian American. —Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

The result: almost 300 people — nearly all Vietnamese, most of them seniors — showed up for a nonpartisan program that organizers had expected to draw 50. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Vietnamese

• Vietnamese cinnamon
• Vietnamese potbellied pig

Kids Definition

Vietnamese

noun

Viet·​nam·​ese vē-ˌet-nə-ˈmēz  ˌvyet-  ˌvē-ət- 

ˌvēt-,

-na-,

-nä,

-ˈmēs

plural Vietnamese

1

: a person born or living in Vietnam

2

: the official language of Vietnam

Vietnamese adjective