From Proto-Tai *xaːwᴬ (“white”). Cognate with Thai ขาว (kǎao), Lao ຂາວ (khāo), Lü ᦃᦱᧁ (ẋaaw), Tai Dam ꪄꪱꪫ, Shan ၶၢဝ် (khǎaw), Ahom 𑜁𑜧 (khaw) or 𑜁𑜨𑜧 (khow), Zhuang hau, Bouyei haaul, Saek ห่าว.
ᥑᥣᥝᥴ (xaaw1) (old orthography ᥑᥣᥝˊ)