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 (ngáw), Ahom 𑜂𑜧 (ngaw) or 𑜂𑜧𑜈𑜫 (ngaww), Zhuang ngaeuz.
ᥒᥝᥰ (ngäw) (old orthography ᥒᥝ̈)