kẹo

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kɛw˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kɛw˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [kɛw˨˩˨]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “The "candy" sense is most likely derived from the nonnominal sense.”)

kẹo

1. becoming thick or concentrated through evaporation

   kho cho đến khi kẹo lại ― continue to simmer until much water has been reduced

(classifier cái, cây, chiếc, viên) kẹo • (𥼱)

1. "non-bánh" candy

   bánh kẹo ― "bánh" and "non-bánh" candy; confectionery

Most likely unrelated to Chinese 五 (MC nguX).

kẹo

1. (probably obsolete, chiefly pig traders' cant) five

• (numerals in pig traders' cant) số đếm trong tiếng lóng lái lợn; chách (“one”), lái/nái (“two”), thâm (“three”), chớ (“four”), kẹo (“five”), mục (“six”), khắp/hấp (“seven”), bét (“eight”), khươm/khơm (“nine”), nạp/lạp (“ten”), ^{(Category: vi:Numerals in pig traders' cant)}