From Proto-Tai *ŋawᴬ (“shadow; reflection”). Cognate with Thai เงา (ngao), Northern Thai ᨦᩮᩢᩣ, Lao ເງົາ (ngao), Lü ᦇᧁ (ngaw), Tai Dam ꪹꪉꪱ, Shan ငဝ်း (ngáo), Ahom 𑜂𑜧 (ṅaw) or 𑜂𑜧𑜈𑜫 (ṅaww), Zhuang ngaeuz.
ᥒᥝᥰ (ngäw) (1963 orthography ᥒᥝ̈)