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Glite Dictionary
Viet Nam

Viet Nam

2.7
A country in Southeast Asia that lies along the South China Sea
  • proper noun
  • /viːɛt nɑːm/
translation icon : Vietnam
  • After the war, Viet Nam underwent major economic reforms known as Đổi Mới.

Examples

  • I have always wanted to visit Viet Nam for its rich culture and beautiful landscapes.

  • Her parents immigrated from Viet Nam to the United States in the 1980s.

  • I visited Viet Nam last summer.

  • Have you ever been to Viet Nam?

  • Her parents immigrated from Viet Nam to the United States in the 1980s.

  • I have always wanted to visit Viet Nam for its rich culture and beautiful landscapes.

  • After the war, Viet Nam underwent major economic reforms known as Đổi Mới.

Synonyms

Vietnam
vsViet Nam
∞ 1.0

A country in Southeast Asia on the eastern coast next to the South China Sea

highlights the country's historical independence from France in 1945 rather than just the name
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
vsViet Nam
3.4

Official name of Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia

focuses on historical independence in 1945 rather than formal name or maritime border

Surface Forms

Viet Nam main

Morphology

Viet + Nam

As a proper name, 'Viet Nam' does not compose from common English lexical meanings: the elements 'Viet' and 'Nam' are not productive English words, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent forms would not derive 'a country in Southeast Asia' from them. Recognizing it as the name of a country requires prior world-knowledge or exposure rather than transparent composition, so it is effectively opaque for learners.

Etymology

Viet Nam comes from two parts: Viet, the name of the people, and Nam, which means 'south'. So the name literally says 'the southern land of the Viet people', which explains why it is the country's name.