From Proto-Mon-Khmer *t₁iʔ ~ *t₁ih ~ *t₁iəh (“earth; soil”). Cognate with Semai tei, Bahnar teh (along with other Bahnaric cognates with nasal infix), Pacoh cuteq, Khmer ដី (dəy), Khmu pteʔ, Mon တိ (tɔeˀ).
teː⁶