The spelling of the word "mouw" might seem confusing to non-native speakers of Dutch. However, the IPA phonetic transcription makes it easier to understand. The first sound of "mouw" is /m/, followed by the round vowel /ɑu/. The final sound is the voiced fricative /v/. When pronounced together, these sounds result in the word "mouw". While it may be difficult to grasp at first, learning the IPA phonetic transcription can make the spelling and pronunciation of foreign words much easier.
The word "mouw" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "mouwe". In turn, "mouwe" originated from the Old Dutch "muwa". The term "mouw" refers to the sleeve of a garment, particularly in a jacket or a shirt.