The spelling of the word "weis" may be confusing for those unfamiliar with German language. It is pronounced as [vaɪs], using the IPA phonetic transcription. The "ei" in German is pronounced as a long "i" sound, while the "w" is pronounced with a "v" sound. Therefore, the word "weis" actually means "white." It is important to note that in German, the letters "w" and "v" are often interchangeable in pronunciation, causing some confusion for language learners.
The word "weis" is derived from the Old English word "wīs", which meant "way, path or direction". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "wīsą". The meaning of "weis" has evolved over time, and it is now primarily used in German and Swiss German to mean "white".