nam

Nam is a syllable with multiple meanings in East Asian languages and in English usage. In Vietnamese, nam (written without diacritics) means “south” and appears in geographic terms such as Nam Bộ (the South) and in many place names; it is also a common male given name. In Vietnamese naming practice, Nam can be a stand-alone given name or part of compound names, with the specific meaning depending on the chosen characters.

In Korean, Nam (남) is a surname, usually represented by the hanja 南 meaning “south,” and it is borne by a number of individuals. The surname is one of several Korean family names that use the 南 character in their origins.

In English-language contexts, Nam has also served as a shorthand for Vietnam, particularly during the Vietnam War era, where “the Nam” functioned as slang for the country.

Etymology and notes: Nam in Vietnamese and Korean derives from the character 南 meaning “south.” Vietnamese orthography uses diacritics to distinguish meanings such as năm (five), so care is needed when diacritics are omitted in English texts. The name Nam is distinct from Năm, and the two have different meanings depending on context.