Onomatopoeic, from the animal's cry. Compare Chinese 貓, Thai แมว (mɛɛo), Lao ແມວ (mǣu), Lü ᦶᦙᧁ (maew), Shan မႅဝ်း (máew), Zhuang meuz, Vietnamese mèo.
ᨾᩯ᩠ᩅ (maew)