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banh mi

American  
[bahn mee] / ˈbɑn mi /
Or bánh mì

noun

  1. a Vietnamese sandwich on a crisp baguette spread with mayonnaise, typically containing pork or chicken and pâté, with pickled vegetables, cucumber, and cilantro.


Etymology

Origin of banh mi

First recorded in 1985–90; from Vietnamese bánh mì “bread, baguette,” equivalent to bánh “any food made from flour; bread; cake” + “wheat, noodles”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The menu is packed with Vietnamese classics, from banh mi to pho, alongside many other dishes.

From Salon Oct. 31, 2025

“My absolute favorite is Ca Com, the banh mi shop from the Anchovy team. They break down whole pigs in their hatted kitchen next door to make the jungle sausage in my favorite order.”

From Salon Apr. 24, 2025

If you’d like your cà phê sữa đá infused with durian, ultramodern Saigon Drip is there for you in historic Pioneer Square, with food offerings including pho, banh mi, four kinds of wings and more.

From Seattle Times Apr. 26, 2024

Inside, grime music blasts as a pop-up vendor doles out vegan banh mi to shoppers who clutch bamboo toilet paper and vegan lox.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 16, 2024

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that Australia runs on banh mi — the Vietnamese sandwich of a baguette with tangy pickled vegetables, a slick of mayonnaise and your protein of choice.

From New York Times Apr. 5, 2024

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