From Proto-Tai *ŋwɯːᴬ (“snake”). Cognate with Thai งู (nguu), Northern Thai ᨦᩪ, Lao ງູ (ngū), Lü ᦇᦴ (nguu), Tai Dam ꪉꪴ, Shan ငူး (ngúu), Ahom 𑜂𑜥 (nguu), Bouyei ngeaz, Zhuang ngwz, Nong Zhuang nguz, Saek งั๊ว.
ᥒᥧᥰ (ngü) (old orthography ᥒᥧ̈)