Reconstruction:Proto-Hmong-Mien/mbrəuˣ

Alternative reconstructions
Ostapirat (2016) reconstructs *m.rˠ- as the initial.

Etymology
Compare Kra-Dai : 🇨🇬; Old Chinese 鯉 'carp'. However, Ostapirat (2016) does not consider the Hmong-Mien and Kra-Dai forms to be related, since the initials (Kra-Dai *pl- vs. Hmong-Mien *m.rˠ-) and tones do not correspond. Ostapirat (2016) instead considers the Hmong-Mien form to correspond with.

Descendants

 * Hmongic
 * Pa Hng
 * Pa Hng - Gundong 滚董: njo¹¹
 * Hm Nai - Mao'ao 毛坳: mpjo¹¹
 * North Hmongic
 * West Xiangxi (Xong) - Layiping 腊乙坪: tɑ³⁵mʐɯ²²
 * East Xiangxi (Suang) - Xiaozhang 小章: mɯ⁵⁵
 * East Hmongic
 * North Qiandong - Yanghao 养蒿: zɛ¹¹
 * East Qiandong - Caidiwan 菜地湾: njei²¹²
 * South Qiandong - Yaogao 尧告: ȵei²⁴¹
 * West Qiandong (Raojia) - Heba 河坝: mei²¹
 * Sheic
 * Younuo 优诺: mui³²
 * Jiongnai - Longhua 龙华: mpja³¹
 * Bana 巴那: bja³¹
 * She - Xiashuicun 下水村: pja⁵³
 * West Hmongic
 * Bunu
 * Dongnu - Qibainong 七百弄: mpje²³¹
 * Nunu - Xishan 西山: pja⁴⁴
 * Numao - Yaolu 瑶麓: mpjei⁵³
 * Core
 * East Luobuohe (Xijia) - Shibanqiao 石板寨: qo⁰⁵mbji⁵⁵
 * West Luobuohe - Gaozhai 高寨: ʔə⁰²mbji⁵⁵
 * Huishui - Gaopo 高坡: mplɛ³¹
 * Mashan - Zongdi 宗地: mpʐe¹¹
 * A-Hmao - Shimenpo 石门坡: mbə³³
 * Chuanqiandian - Dananshan 大南山: ntʂe²¹
 * Mienic
 * Mien
 * Guangdian (Jiangdi): bjau²³¹
 * Xiangnan (Miaoziyuan): bau²³²
 * Kim Mun
 * Diangui (Liangzi): bjau³²
 * Fanghai (Tansan): bjau³¹
 * Biao Mon
 * Changping: blau¹²¹
 * Luoxiang: bjau²¹³
 * Biao Min
 * Dongshan: bla⁴²
 * Shikou: plɔu³¹
 * Niuweizhai: pʰɣau⁴³³
 * Dzao Min (Daping): a⁴⁴biu⁴⁴