ꞗĕaò

Etymology
Attested in the Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum (1651), a dictionary based chiefly on the Northern dialects. As with other words with this initial, the Northern dialects depalatalized this initial ([βj- > β- > v-] in the modern dialects) while the Southern dialects defricativized it ([βj- > j-] in the modern dialects).

This common word is actually one of the few cases of ‹ꞗĕ-› attested, showing that the depalatalization process had almost completed for this initial in the Northern dialects attested by de Rhodes.

The modern Central-Southern form is not a reflex of this form, but from an unattested form that did not undergo diphthongization. The undiphthongized Southern form with palatal initial latter spread to the Northern and Central dialects as an interjection.

Verb

 * 1) to enter

Descendants

 * Northern Vietnamese: