word formation

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Why should we say 'the Vietnam war' (noun + noun) and 'the Korean war' (adj + noun) although they are both civil wars?
 

Linguist__

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It's a good question, although I doubt it has anything to do with them being a civil war or not. I looked for a list of wars, and every one I've seen so far that includes a country uses the demonym - the adjective. So I think 'Vietnam War' is the odd one out. Why it isn't 'Vietnamese War' I dont know.
 

Raymott

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The Iraq war
The Gulf war
The Faulkland's war
 
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