name Common

Vietnam

vee-uht-NAHM

Vietnam (name) means a country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi. Example: “They backpacked through Vietnam for a month, from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta.”

name

A country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi.

"They backpacked through Vietnam for a month, from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta."

noun

By extension, any long, grinding conflict that a stronger power can't win, or a hopeless, dangerous situation.

"Critics warned the invasion could turn into another Vietnam."

"The failing project became his own personal Vietnam."

How to use Vietnam

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe country in Southeast Asia — or, figuratively, a drawn-out conflict that can't be won.

When to use it

The figurative sense ("his own Vietnam") is journalistic/informal and can read as insensitive; use with care.

Word forms

Vietnams plural

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Fill the gap

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They backpacked through _____ for a month, from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta.

Etymology

From Vietnamese Việt Nam. The extended, figurative sense of "an unwinnable quagmire" comes directly from the Vietnam War.

Synonyms

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quagmire morass quandary debacle stalemate

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Vietnam” mean?

The word “Vietnam” means a country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi. In plain terms, the country in Southeast Asia — or, figuratively, a drawn-out conflict that can't be won.

How do you pronounce “Vietnam”?

“Vietnam” is pronounced vee-uht-NAHM (/viˌɛtˈnɑm/ in IPA).

How do you use “Vietnam” in a sentence?

Here is “Vietnam” used in a sentence: “They backpacked through Vietnam for a month, from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta.”

What part of speech is “Vietnam”?

Depending on how it is used, “Vietnam” can be a name and a noun.

Is “Vietnam” a common word?

“Vietnam” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Vietnam” have?

“Vietnam” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi.

What is the difference between 'Vietnam' the country and calling something 'a Vietnam'?

Capitalized and used as a name, "Vietnam" refers to the country in Southeast Asia, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital at Hanoi. Used figuratively, calling a situation "a Vietnam" means a long, grinding conflict that a stronger power cannot win, or a hopeless, dangerous predicament.

Is 'Vietnam' spelled as one word or two?

In modern English "Vietnam" is most commonly written as one word, though the two-word form "Viet Nam" also appears, especially in the country's official name. Both refer to the same Southeast Asian nation.

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