From Proto-Tai *ɣwaːjᴬ (“water buffalo”). Cognate with Thai ควาย (kwaai), Northern Thai ᨤ᩠ᩅᩣ᩠ᨿ, Lao ຄວາຍ (khuāi), Lü ᦩᦻ (xvaay), Tai Dam ꪁꪫꪱꪥ, Shan ၵႂၢႆး (kwáay), Ahom 𑜁𑜨𑜩 (khoy) or 𑜁𑜩 (khay), Zhuang vaiz, Saek ว๊าย.
ᥑᥣᥭᥰ (xaay2) (old orthography ᥑᥣᥭ¨)