From Proto-Tai *ɣwajᴬ (“penis”). Cognate with Lao ໂຄຍ (khōi), Northern Thai ᨤ᩠ᩅ᩠ᨿ, Khün ᨣ᩠ᩅᩭ, Lü ᦩᦾ (xwoay), Shan ၵႂႆး (kwái), Tai Nüa ᥑᥩᥭᥰ (xöay), Phake ၵွႝ (khoy), Ahom 𑜁𑜨𑜩 (khoy), Zhuang vaez, Nong Zhuang vaez. Compare Proto-Austronesian *gaway (“tentacles of octopus, squid, jellyfish, etc”).
It was believed that the word was corrupted from Pali guyha (“hidden, concealed, unrevealed”) (and then ควยห์ occurred). But every Tai language had not contacted Pali and guyha did not literally mean “penis”. So this is coincidence.
Orthographic/Phonemic | ควย g w y | |
Romanization | Paiboon | kuai |
Royal Institute | khuai | |
(standard) IPA(key) | /kʰua̯j˧/(R) |
ควย • (kuai) (classifier ควย)
ควย • (kuai)
ควย • (kuai)