kwv
/kɨ˧˦/
The Hmong word for 'younger brother' is kwv.
kwv is a noun used to refer to a male sibling who is younger than oneself.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kɨ˧˦/.
Did you know?
- The term kwv is deeply rooted in the Proto-Hmong-Mien linguistic heritage. It shares a distant, mysterious ancestral link to the Chinese term for 'older brother', despite the functional roles of the words being inverted.
- In Hmong culture, calling someone kwv is not limited to biological siblings. It is frequently used as a friendly or respectful way to address a younger male peer or even a stranger in a social setting.
- The word kwv is part of a larger kinship system where the specific term used depends entirely on the speaker's own age and gender relative to the person mentioned.
Examples in context
- Nws yog kuv kwv.He is my younger brother.
- Kuv kwv tab tom ua hauj lwm.My younger brother is working.
Example conversation
Nao is asking Tou about his family.
- NaoTou, koj puas muaj kwv?Tou, do you have a younger brother?
- TouMuaj, kuv muaj ib tug kwv.Yes, I have one younger brother.
- NaoNws hnub nyoog pes txaus?Is he very young?
- TouNws tsuas yog ib xyoo.He is only one year old.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kwv, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kwv, CC BY-SA 4.0.
