Etymology

hoa ("flower") + lơ (prob. a phonetic borrowing from French fleur); the word is probably derived from the French chou-fleur (cauliflower; literally "flower cabbage")

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [hwaː˧˧ l̪əːɰ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [hwaː˧˧ ləːɰ˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [waː˧˥ l̻ʲəːɰ˧˥]