List of Khmu animal common names explained

The following list of Khmu (Kammu Yuan dialect of Luang Namtha Province, Laos) animal names is from Svantesson et al. (2013).^[1]

Insects

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
àay ɛ̀ɛt				beetles
hŋkúul kók		Trichogomphus	food	beetles
hŋkúul rháaŋ		Eupatorus	food	beetles
hŋkúul ˀyíak lèe			food	beetles
ìŋ-kíi			food	beetles
kmɔ́ɔt				beetles
kńtàp càm (cf. tàp)			food	beetles
kŕnòon		Holotrichia	food	beetles
lìit-lɔ̀ɔy				beetles
lìit-lɔ̀ɔy sɨáŋ				beetles
lìit-théeŋ				beetles
pràac pràaŋ				beetles
rmkúum rháaŋ		Cyrtotrachelus	food	beetles
rmkúum tʔó		Rhynchophorus	food	beetles
rŋkə̀ pr̀lɨ̀a			food	beetles
yà híc				beetles
àam-pláam				butterflies and moths
cńtrə̀əy		Attacus atlas	spiritual world	butterflies and moths
kɔ́ɔk èes	Saturniid larva			butterflies and moths
kɔ́ɔk kńtòoy	hawkmoth larva			butterflies and moths
kɔ́ɔk lɔ́ɔt				butterflies and moths
kɔ́ɔk srtà				butterflies and moths
kŕwàaŋ lɔ̀ɔl				butterflies and moths
yɔ̀ɔr				cockroaches
cḿrɔ̀ ŋɔ́				dragonflies
kńtɔ̀ɔy plɔ̀ɔŋ	dragonfly nymph		food	dragonflies
kɔ́ɔk ráaŋ	dragonfly nymph		food	dragonflies
smpùt-húl	dragonfly nymph			dragonflies
tŕlìit-tíit				dragonflies
ìip-àap				earwigs
tmá				fleas
cńʔùur			food	Hymenoptera
cńʔùur màr				Hymenoptera
cńʔùur rŋkə̀				Hymenoptera
hpɔ́ɔt		Apis		Hymenoptera
hpɔ́ɔt pté			food, medicinal use	Hymenoptera
hpɔ́ɔt sʔɔ́ɔŋ		Apis cerana	food	Hymenoptera
húut		Trigona		Hymenoptera
khú		Oecophylla smaragdina	food	Hymenoptera
kùuy		Xylocopa		Hymenoptera
kʔáañ			food, spiritual world	Hymenoptera
kʔáañ pòok			food	Hymenoptera
kʔɔ́ɔl				Hymenoptera
lɛ̀ɛl				Hymenoptera
lɔ̀ɔp				Hymenoptera
lùuy-làay			food	Hymenoptera
múuc	ant			Hymenoptera
múuc lə̀əc	ant			Hymenoptera
múuc mùum	ant			Hymenoptera
múuc ŋà	ant			Hymenoptera
múuc rɛ̀ɛc	ant			Hymenoptera
múuc tŕlɔ̀h rùŋ	ant		food	Hymenoptera
múuc yɨ̀m	ant			Hymenoptera
ɔ̀ɔŋ			food	Hymenoptera
ɔ̀ɔŋ káar			food	Hymenoptera
ɔ̀ɔŋ kúŋ		Vespa soror	food	Hymenoptera
pñèe				Hymenoptera
pŋ̀ rɔ̀ɔŋ kʔɔ́ɔl				Hymenoptera
sís smŋì				Hymenoptera
smrì			food	Hymenoptera
tŋían	ant			Hymenoptera
tɔ̀ɔs	ant			Hymenoptera
tr̀háay klàaŋ		Apis laboriosa		Hymenoptera
tr̀háay kɔ̀ɔy		Apis florea	food	Hymenoptera
tr̀háay sʔɔ́ɔŋ		Apis dorsata	food	Hymenoptera
sé				lice
tlúc				lice
tm̀rìñ				lice
tók-ŋòl			food	Mantodea
tók-ŋòl rwàay				Mantodea
yà pùh rùk				net-winged insects
cáŋ-cáŋ		Sasuma		Orthoptera
cɛ́ɛl				Orthoptera
cíi-rɔ̀ɔ				Orthoptera
cɔ̀ɔm-cɔ̀				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs kìŋ		Aularches miliaris		Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs kóoŋ			food	Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs màt pɛ̀		Locusta migratoria		Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs plɔ̀				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs pr̀yɔ̀ɔŋ				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs pr̀yɔ̀ɔŋ				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs tŕlèŋ-téŋ				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs trú			food	Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs túus				Orthoptera
hɔ́ɔs ˀyíak sár				Orthoptera
kḿñàam	cricket		food	Orthoptera
sə̀ŋ pók mùh (cf. pók)	cricket		food	Orthoptera
sŋmə̀əy			food	Orthoptera
stmìat			food	Orthoptera
stmìat pr̀yɔ̀ɔŋ			food	Orthoptera
tḿràac			food	Orthoptera
kɔ́ɔŋ kák kɔ́ɔŋ mìaŋ				Phasmatodea
prɛ́ɛs rháaŋ			spiritual world	Phasmatodea
tók-ŋòl lá		Phyllium		Phasmatodea
kláap	winged termite			termites
kláap hntrɔ̀ɔy	winged termite			termites
kláap ìɨr	winged termite			termites
lkùun trùuñ	soldier termite			termites
trùuñ				termites
àar		Tosena splendida		true bugs
clél		Macrosemia chantrainei		true bugs
hɨ́ŋ				true bugs
hɨ́ŋ hmpíir			food	true bugs
hɨ́ŋ kàaŋ				true bugs
hɨ́ŋ klár wàr				true bugs
hɨ́ŋ páac			food	true bugs
hɨ́ŋ rwàay				true bugs
hɨ́ŋ skó			food	true bugs
hɨ́ŋ trú		Pygoplatys auropunctatus	food	true bugs
híŋ twé				true bugs
ìi-lèk		Macrosemia tonkiniana		true bugs
kŕwàaŋ		Tosena albata		true bugs
kŕwàaŋ		Tosena melanoptera		true bugs
mà cnɨ́m				true bugs
mɛ̀ɛŋ dáa		Lethocerus indicus	food	true bugs
pɛ̀ tlóh				true bugs
pŋ̀rɔ̀ɔŋ hmràŋ		Ayuthia spectabile		true bugs
pr̀wɛ̀ɛw		Aola bindusara		true bugs
rɛ̀ɛt		Meimuna duffelsi	food	true bugs
sés-wɛ̀ɛs		Meimuna tavoyana		true bugs
ták kwàac				true bugs
tm̀ pɔ́h sɨ́aŋ		Pomponia		true bugs
yà klɛ́h			medicinal use	true bugs
yèl-yèl				true bugs
yɛ̀ɛr		Dundubia spiculata	spiritual world	true bugs
èem pèet èem pɔ̀ɔy				true flies
hmràay				true flies
kɔ́ɔk páay kɔ́ɔk sɛ́ɛ				true flies
krìil				true flies
lmñàay				true flies
mòop				true flies
rɔ̀ɔy	fly			true flies
rɔ̀ɔy hmràŋ	fly			true flies
rɔ̀ɔy múu	fly			true flies
rɔ̀ɔy pàh				true flies
sə̀ŋ pók (cf. pók)		Aedes Anopheles		true flies
mà kmúul		Lepisma saccharina		Zygentoma
kɔ́ɔk				unclassified
mɨ̀l	root-eating grub			unclassified

Other arthropods

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
cǹtáh			food	other arthropods
kléc-wèc				other arthropods
ktáam			food	other arthropods
ktáam pìas			food, medicinal use	other arthropods
ktáam ràŋ	aquatic crab			other arthropods
kʔíip				other arthropods
kʔíip stɔ́ɔŋ				other arthropods
mɛ̀ɛŋ pɔ́ɔŋ				other arthropods
rmŋɛ̀ɛs				other arthropods
sé kḿpɨ̀ar				other arthropods
snwà				other arthropods
snwà húal			medicinal use	other arthropods
snwà kàaŋ			spiritual world	other arthropods
snwà Ñàaŋ Pèeŋ		Nephila		other arthropods
snwà ŋɔ́			spiritual world	other arthropods
tá càac-càac				other arthropods
tɛ̀ɛn-ɛ̀ɛ				other arthropods
tm̀kɨ́				other arthropods

Other invertebrates

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
lɔ̀ɔr-pɛ̀ɛr				flatworms
tíɨk				flatworms
hntáak lìik				molluscs
klɔ́				molluscs
klɔ́ màam				molluscs
klɔ́ ték				molluscs
plà				molluscs
róoc				molluscs
clìa				ringed worms
plíiŋ				ringed worms
plɨ́am				ringed worms
tíak				ringed worms
wàak				ringed worms
sáan		Trichinella spiralis		roundworms
wàak				roundworms
wɔ̀ɔc-wɔ̀ɔŋ	worm			roundworms

Fish

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
cŕlɔ̀ɔŋ-tɔ̀ɔŋ		Xenentodon cancila	food
ká			food
ká cáat			food
ká kɨ́an			food
ká klóm		Garra	food
ká kĺʔàak
ká lá
kɨ̀r tòor
klúat
láañ
lə̀ən			food, spiritual world
lmɛ̀ɛr		Clarias	spiritual world
páa bɨ́k		Pangasianodon gigas
páa dɛ́ɛŋ
páa khɛ́ɛ
plèek
sdét
sŋplák		Hemibagrus
srlɛ̀ɛŋ àar		Datnioides
ták-ták klàaŋ		Balitora
tŕlə̀əy		Schistura	food

Amphibians and reptiles

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
ckrée				crocodiles
clù	frog		food	frogs
cɔ́ɔ-ɛ̀	frog		food	frogs
ə̀əc-prə̀əc	frog		food	frogs
ɛ̀ɛŋ	frog			frogs
ìɨŋ			food	frogs
káak-káak	frog			frogs
kɨ̀r tɔ̀ɔr	frog			frogs
kḿpàay			food	frogs
kóp	frog			frogs
kɔ́ɔt	frog		food	frogs
ŋɛ̀ɛt	frog		food	frogs
òr				frogs
púuk-àak	frog			frogs
ròk			food	frogs
sís	frog		food	frogs
sŋcáŋ			food	frogs
táak-táak	frog		food	frogs
trák-pə̀k				frogs
tríik	frog		food	frogs
wàl				frogs
màr	snake			lizards and snakes
màr cŋáar		Trimeresurus		lizards and snakes
màr hrnɔ̀ɔm klə̀ róoy		Ahaetulla nasuta		lizards and snakes
màr kìaŋ		Ophiophagus hannah	spiritual world	lizards and snakes
màr kìaŋ kràŋ		Naja kaouthia		lizards and snakes
màr kìaŋ kŕlìiŋ		Boiga cyanea		lizards and snakes
màr kḿʔùuk	snake			lizards and snakes
màr kùun		Python molurus	food	lizards and snakes
màr kùun		Python reticulatus	food	lizards and snakes
màr kùun kĺtàak		Python curtus		lizards and snakes
màr plàas		Psammophis condanarus	food	lizards and snakes
màr plɔ̀ɔŋ		Elaphe	food	lizards and snakes
màr pnɨ̀m				lizards and snakes
màr pǹlùun				lizards and snakes
màr rkpɔ̀ɔk snáat		Bungarus		lizards and snakes
màr sáaŋ-ràa				lizards and snakes
màr smrə̀əŋ	snake			lizards and snakes
màr snlɔ̀	snake			lizards and snakes
màr tlɔ̀ɔŋ	snake			lizards and snakes
màr tŕlə̀əy		Xenochrophis piscator		lizards and snakes
màr tŕlòk	snake			lizards and snakes
pák-pə́ə		Gekko gecko	medicinal use	lizards and snakes
tàaŋ cr̀là	Calotes lizard	Calotes		lizards and snakes
tàaŋ lʔìar				lizards and snakes
tàaŋ pát róoŋ		Draco		lizards and snakes
tàaŋ wèk		Hemidactylus frenatus		lizards and snakes
tr̀kɔ́ɔt		Varanus	food	lizards and snakes
tr̀kɔ́ɔt lá tráañ			food	lizards and snakes
tàaŋ ká				salamanders
táw	tortoise, turtle		food	turtles
tm̀ pá		Cyclemys dentata		turtles

Birds

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
kláaŋ tɛ́ɛw-tɛ́ɛw				Charadriiformes
síim tlée				Charadriiformes
òor-òok				cranes
tkúut		Turnix	food	cranes
wʌ̀ʌk		Grus		cranes
tkɔ́ ɔk		Phaenicophaeus		Cuculiformes
crùk		Macropygia	food	doves and pigeons
htóoc		Treron sphenurus	food	doves and pigeons
kúuk-trúul		Streptopelia chinensis	food	doves and pigeons
nòk ˀyáak				doves and pigeons
pɔ́ɔl		Chalcophaps indica		doves and pigeons
síim hɨ́r		Ducula		doves and pigeons
síim púŋ		Treron pompadora	food	doves and pigeons
tm̀pɨ́r		Streptopelia	food	doves and pigeons
yɨ̀ɨy			food	doves and pigeons
hyíar			food, spiritual world	fowl
hyíar klà		Centropus	food	fowl
hyíar prì		Gallus gallus	food, spiritual world	fowl
kéey ŋɨ̀aŋ				fowl
kíaŋ		Pavo muticus		fowl
kɔ̀ɔŋ-kɔ̀ɔy		Rheinardia ocellata	spiritual world	fowl
pɔ́ɔk-pɔ̀ɔc		Lophura diardi		fowl
próŋ		Arborophila	food	fowl
trɨ́al		Lophura nycthemera	food	fowl
ùut-ìiŋ		Coturnix chinensis	food	fowl
kíaŋ-kíaŋ		Anthracoceros albirostris	food	kingfishers
kláaŋ ká				kingfishers
pɛ́ɛt pòr		Nyctyornis	spiritual world	kingfishers
síim lwàaŋ		Merops orientalis		kingfishers
tpáh		Upupa epops		kingfishers
tráaŋ kók		Buceros bicornis		kingfishers
tŕlàap-táap		Caprimulgus		nightjars
pòok		Ninox scutulata	food, spiritual world	owls
pɔ́ɔt-pɔ́ɔŋ		Glaucidium brodiei		owls
tŕlòt-tót		Otus		owls
lɛ̀ɛ		Psittacula	food	parrots
pɛ́ɛt		Psittacula finschii	food	parrots
àp		Cyornis	food	passerines
càm		Dicrurus macrocercus	food	passerines
càm		Dicrurus leucophaeus	food	passerines
cék		Emberiza aureola	food	passerines
cɛ́ɛc		Enicurus	food	passerines
cláŋ		Chloropsis	food	passerines
cńtrɛ̀ɛk		Lanius	food	passerines
còoŋ		Gracula religiosa	food	passerines
còoŋ ìaŋ		Acridotheres tristis	food	passerines
crées-crées		Arachnothera	food	passerines
crùum		Dicrurus remifer	food	passerines
crùum		Dicrurus paradiseus	food	passerines
ctéet		Orthotomus	food	passerines
háas		Monticola solitarius	food	passerines
hmràay tmó		Phylloscopus	food	passerines
kĺcɛ̀		Hypsipetes leucocephalus	food	passerines
kĺʔàak		Corvus macrorhynchos	spiritual world	passerines
kĺʔàak òm		Myophonus caeruleus		passerines
kràa-lìik		Luscinia cyane	food	passerines
kràa-lìik		Luscinia calliope	food	passerines
kró		Pycnonotus	food	passerines
kwéc		Irena puella	food	passerines
líiŋ		Cissa chinensis	food	passerines
ñèe		Zosterops	food	passerines
ʌ̀ʌc		Hypsipetes	food	passerines
plìa-plìa		Psarisomus dalhousiae		passerines
plíar cláar		Rhipidura	food	passerines
prèc		Ploceus		passerines
ràaŋ cɔ́ɔk		Garrulax leucolophus	food, spiritual world	passerines
ràaŋ khwáa		Garrulax chinensis	food	passerines
ràaŋ khwáa		Garrulax strepitans	food	passerines
ràaŋ tráak		Garrulax monileger	food	passerines
ràaŋ tráak		Garrulax pectoralis	food	passerines
rìc		Lonchura	food	passerines
rswìs		Pericrocotus	food	passerines
séc			food	passerines
síim cr̀lɔ̀ɔy		Passer montanus		passerines
síim hpé		Sturnus nigricollis	food	passerines
síim khɨ́aŋ		Turdus obscurus	food	passerines
síim lá trù		Stachyris nigriceps	food	passerines
síim plàaŋ		Ficedula parva	food	passerines
síim yú		Pellorneum ruficeps	food	passerines
sʔíil				passerines
tées		Anthus cervinus	food	passerines
tɔ́ɔr-kɔ̀ɔy		Pomatorhinus	food	passerines
tráaŋ plèŋ		Urocissa erythrorhyncha	food	passerines
très		Alophoixus pallidus	food	passerines
tŕlèes-tées		Motacilla		passerines
kláaŋ ká				pelicans
hɛ́ɛŋ			spiritual world	raptors
kláaŋ			food	raptors
kláaŋ ɛ̀ɛc				raptors
kláaŋ klɨ́aʔ			spiritual world	raptors
kláaŋ kùt-trùu			spiritual world	raptors
kláaŋ síim				raptors
kláaŋ tɔ́ɔk-tɔ́ɔk				raptors
kláaŋ trú		Ictinaetus malayensis		raptors
kláaŋ trú		Milvus migrans		raptors
kláaŋ ká				storks
kcúr		Harpactes	food, spiritual world	trogons
ŋàan				waterfowl
pát			food, spiritual world	waterfowl
pát òm				waterfowl
pát théet				waterfowl
kr̀lèk		Dendrocopos canicapillus		woodpeckers
síim tók lék				woodpeckers
slɔ́ɔk		Megalaima lineata	food	woodpeckers
tpáh		Picus chlorolophus		woodpeckers
tpáh		Picus flavinucha		woodpeckers
tŕlèk		Megalaima australis	food	woodpeckers
tŕlòk		Megalaima asiatica	food	woodpeckers
wɛ̀ɛt-wɛ̀ɛt				woodpeckers
clék				unidentified
cŕlʌ̀ʌŋ-kʌ̀ʌt			food	unidentified
hóop			food	unidentified
kláaŋ pùuk				unidentified
pùu-klóok				unidentified
síim kḿpɔ̀				unidentified
síim ˀyíak ték				unidentified
slɔ́ɔk tɛ́ɛk				unidentified
tɔ̀ɔŋ-trɔ́ɔl			food	unidentified

Mammals

Kammu name	English name	Scientific name	Uses	Classification
hntɨ́ar			food	bats
hntɨ́ar kɔ̀ɔy			food	bats
hntɨ́ar sɔ́				bats
pòl		Tylonycteris		bats
tɛ̀ɛñ		Myotis		bats
hmròk		Cuon alpinus	food	carnivorans
hŋkáar		Martes flavigula		carnivorans
húal		Ursus malayanus	food, medicinal use	carnivorans
húal		Ursus thibetanus	food, medicinal use	carnivorans
húal wàk		Arctictis binturong	food, medicinal use	carnivorans
kɔ̀ɔy lwàaŋ		Mustela	spiritual world	carnivorans
mɛ̀ɛw				carnivorans
nàak		Aonyx cinerea		carnivorans
pàŋ-pɔ̀ɔn				carnivorans
prùul séey-séey		Melogale		carnivorans
prùul sɨ́aŋ		Arctonyx collaris	food	carnivorans
ràaŋ klà		Herpestes urva		carnivorans
rwàay			food, spiritual world	carnivorans
rwàay nám		Panthera tigris		carnivorans
rwàay pùuk		Prionailurus viverrinus		carnivorans
rwàay srmìñ		Panthera pardus		carnivorans
rwàay srmìñ		Neofelis nebulosa		carnivorans
rwàay srmìñ		Pardofelis marmorata		carnivorans
rwàay srmìñ		Prionailurus bengalensis		carnivorans
rwàay yíaŋ		Panthera pardus		carnivorans
rwàay yɨ̀m		Catopuma temminckii	spiritual world	carnivorans
rwàay yìm		Felis chaus	spiritual world	carnivorans
sár		Viverricula indica	food	carnivorans
sár sór		Viverra zibetha		carnivorans
síŋ tóo				carnivorans
sɔ́			spiritual world	carnivorans
tmɔ̀ɔŋ		Paradoxurus hermaphroditus	food	carnivorans
tmɔ̀ɔŋ		Arctogalidia trivirgata	food	carnivorans
tmɔ̀ɔŋ rúŋ		Paguma larvata	food	carnivorans
scáaŋ		Elephas maximus	spiritual world	elephants
kées		Capricornis	food, medicinal use	even-toed ungulates
kɛ́		Bos gaurus		even-toed ungulates
ktíiŋ		Bos gaurus	food	even-toed ungulates
lmpò			food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
lmpò prì		Bos javanicus		even-toed ungulates
pàan kéey		Tragulus	food	even-toed ungulates
pɛ̀			food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
púas		Muntiacus	food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
sɨ́aŋ			food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
sɨ́aŋ prì		Sus scrofa	food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
tráak		Bubalus bubalis	food, spiritual world	even-toed ungulates
tráak prì		Bubalus arnee		even-toed ungulates
tyáak		Cervus unicolor	food	even-toed ungulates
tyáak		Cervus eldii	food	even-toed ungulates
tyáak		Axis porcinus	food	even-toed ungulates
ùut				even-toed ungulates
pŕlɨ̀ak tí (cf. lɨ̀ak)				insectivorans
sɛ́ɛŋ-sɛ́ɛŋ		Suncus		insectivorans
ùt		Hylomys suillus	food	insectivorans
ktáay		Lepus peguensis		lagomorphs
hmràŋ			spiritual world	odd-toed ungulates
làa				odd-toed ungulates
lɔ̀ɔ				odd-toed ungulates
rɛ̀ɛt		Dicerorhinus Rhinoceros	food, spiritual world	odd-toed ungulates
kḿpɨ̀ar		Manis	food, spiritual world	pangolins
cháaŋ		Trachypithecus	food	primates
cńtrɛ̀ɛk				primates
ryòol		Hylobates		primates
wá		Macaca	food	primates
wá céeŋ		Nycticebus		primates
kár		Mus	food	rodents
khúat		Atherurus macrourus	food	rodents
kné	rat		food	rodents
kné cŋ̀ khál		Niviventer	food	rodents
kné cók	rat		food	rodents
kné káan	rat		food	rodents
kné kàaŋ	rat	Rattus	food	rodents
kné khɨ́aŋ		Bandicota	food	rodents
kné klàaŋ		Leopoldamys	food	rodents
kné pòok	rat		food	rodents
kné tḿlès		Chiropodomys		rodents
kné ùŋ	rat		food	rodents
kné yɨ̀m		Maxomys surifer		rodents
knú	rat		food	rodents
lɨ́ak		Petaurista	food	rodents
ñɨ̀ar		Tamiops	food, spiritual world	rodents
pŋ̀kès		Ratufa	food	rodents
prɔ́ɔk			food	rodents
prɔ́ɔk pté		Dremomys	food	rodents
prɔ́ɔk ríaŋ		Callosciurus finlaysonii	food	rodents
prɔ́ɔk tɨ́ɨr		Hylopetes		rodents
prɔ́ɔk yú		Callosciurus flavimanus		rodents
ré		Hystrix brachyura	food, medicinal use	rodents
tkán		Cannomys Rhizomys	food	rodents
kɔ̀ɔy		Tupaia	food	treeshrews

See also

• List of Khmu plant common names
• Wildlife of Laos

Notes and References

1. Svantesson, Jan-Olof; Raw Kam; Kristina Lindell; Håkan Lundstrom. 2013. Dictionary of Kammu Yuan Language and Culture. University of Hawai'i Press.