From Proto-Tai *xaːwᴬ (“white”). Cognate with Thai ขาว (kǎao), Northern Thai ᨡᩣ᩠ᩅ, Lao ຂາວ (khāo), Lü ᦃᦱᧁ (ẋaaw), Tai Dam ꪄꪱꪫ, Shan ၶၢဝ် (khǎao), Ahom 𑜁𑜧 (khaw) or 𑜁𑜧𑜨 (khawo), Zhuang hau, Bouyei haaul, Saek ห่าว.
ᥑᥣᥝᥴ (xáaw) (1963 orthography ᥑᥣᥝ́)