Etymology

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From Thai เฮีย (hiia), from Teochew (hian1, elder brother).

Pronunciation

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  • (Vientiane) IPA(key): [hiːə̯˧˥]
  • (Luang Prabang) IPA(key): [hiːə̯˩˨]
  • Hyphenation: ເຮຍ
  • Rhymes: -iːə̯

Noun

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ເຮຍ (hīa)

  1. elder brother (especially said among Chinese people)
  2. term used to address a respectful and/or older man