adj
Common
Vietnamese
vee-uht-nuh-MEEZ
Vietnamese (adj) means of or relating to Vietnam, its people, culture, or language. Example: “We tried an excellent Vietnamese restaurant downtown.”
adj
1
Of or relating to Vietnam, its people, culture, or language.
"We tried an excellent Vietnamese restaurant downtown."
noun
1
A person from Vietnam, or people of Vietnamese descent.
"Many Vietnamese settled in the area after the war."
2
The language spoken in Vietnam.
"She grew up speaking Vietnamese at home and English at school."
How to use Vietnamese
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Vietnam — its people, culture, or language.
Common pairings
Vietnamese cuisine
speak Vietnamese
Vietnamese community
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Word forms
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We tried an excellent _____ restaurant downtown.
Etymology
From "Vietnam" plus the ending "-ese," which forms nationality words (as in "Japanese" or "Chinese").
Synonyms
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Annamese
Annamite
Rhymes for Vietnamese
See all rhymes for Vietnamese →Frequently asked questions
What does “Vietnamese” mean?
The word “Vietnamese” means of or relating to Vietnam, its people, culture, or language. In plain terms, relating to Vietnam — its people, culture, or language.
How do you pronounce “Vietnamese”?
“Vietnamese” is pronounced vee-uht-nuh-MEEZ (/ˌviː.ət.nəˈmiːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Vietnamese” in a sentence?
Here is “Vietnamese” used in a sentence: “We tried an excellent Vietnamese restaurant downtown.”
What part of speech is “Vietnamese”?
Depending on how it is used, “Vietnamese” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Vietnamese” come from?
The word “Vietnamese” comes from Chinese. From "Vietnam" plus the ending "-ese," which forms nationality words (as in "Japanese" or "Chinese").
Is “Vietnamese” a common word?
“Vietnamese” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Vietnamese” have?
“Vietnamese” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of or relating to Vietnam, its people, culture, or language.
Is 'Vietnamese' always capitalized?
Yes, 'Vietnamese' is a proper adjective and noun derived from the country name Vietnam, so it should always be capitalized in English. This applies whether it refers to the people, the language, or anything related to the country.
Does 'Vietnamese' have a different plural form?
No, 'Vietnamese' stays the same in both singular and plural when referring to people, similar to words like 'Chinese' or 'Japanese.' You would say 'one Vietnamese' or 'many Vietnamese' without adding an 's'.
Can 'Vietnamese' refer to both the people and the language?
Yes, 'Vietnamese' can mean a person from Vietnam or of Vietnamese descent, and it can also refer to the language spoken in Vietnam. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended, such as 'she is Vietnamese' versus 'she speaks Vietnamese'.
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