nhậu

From Proto-Vietic *ɲuːʔ (“to drink”), from Proto-Austroasiatic *ɲuʔ (“to drink, to suck”). Cognate with Koho nyu (“to drink alcohols”), Samtao ɲɯ́ʔ, Teressa nyūḵ, Santali ᱧᱩ (ñu, “to drink”).

It originally meant "to drink" and might accept, as direct object, any drinkable liquid; "nhậu" ('bibere / to drink') and "nhậu nước" ('aquam potare / to drink water') were attested in Dictionarium Anamitico-Latinum (1772; 1838).

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

nhậu • (昭, 𠶕, 𠻼)

1. (colloquial) to have a carousal or drinking party, often with hors d'oeuvres