Hmong
/ˈmɒŋ/noun
A collective name for an Indigenous ethnolinguistic group of mainland Southeast Asia, especially associated with communities in China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and diaspora communities.
Did you know?The origin of the name Hmong remains disputed: many Hmong use Hmoob or Mong in their own languages, while Miao is a historically widespread Chinese exonym that some communities reject.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-modern period
Hmongic
Hmoob / Mong
“Self-designations used in different Hmong varieties; their precise original meanings and relationship to English Hmong remain debated.”
Ancient China–Medieval period
Chinese
苗 (Miáo)
“A Chinese designation historically applied to several southern and southwestern peoples, including Hmong-related communities; it is an exonym rather than a proven direct ancestor of Hmong.”
19th Century
French / English
Méo / Meo
“Colonial-era forms used for Hmong communities in mainland Southeast Asia, ultimately connected with regional exonyms and often regarded as outdated or offensive.”
20th Century
English
Miao
“A widely used English form based on Chinese usage, especially in anthropological and administrative writing.”
20th Century
English
Hmong
“An increasingly preferred English collective name, particularly among Hmong communities and scholars, though its exact linguistic origin remains uncertain.”
Modern English
English
Hmong
“The standard English ethnonym for the people and, by extension, their languages and cultures.”