Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂owis, from the root *h₂ew- ‎(“to see, perceive”), whence also possibly उवे ‎(uvé). Cognates include Ancient Greek αἰσθάνομαι ‎(aisthánomai, “to perceive”), Hittite 𒌋𒀪𒄭 ‎(u-uḫ-ḫi, “I see”) and Latin audiō ‎(“I hear, listen”).

Traditional etymologists connect it to वहिस् ‎(vahis) and अव ‎(ava), or to आविद् ‎(ā-vid).