Where does “ngang nhau” come from?

ngang nhau (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese nhậu, from Proto-Vietic ɲuːʔ, from Proto-Mon-Khmer ɲuʔ.

ngang nhau (Vietnamese): equal; even; to be identical (with); the same (as)

Definitions

  1. equal; even; to be identical (with); the same (as)

Ancestry of “ngang nhau”, step by step

ngang nhau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Vietnamese nhậu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnamesenhậuto have a carousal or drinking party, often with hors d'oeuvres
2Proto-Vieticɲuːʔto drink
3Proto-Mon-Khmerɲuʔ—

via Vietnamese ngang

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Vietnamesenganghorizontal; to the side; unreasonably stubborn
2Proto-Vieticp-ŋaːŋ—
Every word from Proto-Mon-Khmer ɲuʔ →Every word from Proto-Vietic ɲuːʔ →Every word from Vietnamese nhậu →