'annamitic' originates from the geographic name 'Annam', ultimately from Vietnamese 'An Nam' (安南) via French 'Annam', where 'An Nam' meant 'Pacified South' (from Chinese 安 'peace' + 南 'south').

'annamitic' developed in English from French forms such as 'Annamitique' / 'Annamite' used in 19th-century writing about the French protectorate of Annam; the English adjective was formed by adding the suffix '-ic' to 'Annam' or to the English borrowing 'Annamite'.

Initially it referred specifically to people or things from the historical region of Annam; over time it has been used more generally (and now rarely) for things relating to that region or its languages, with the term becoming largely archaic or historical in modern use.