Kuy people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (480,000 (est.)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Thailand, Cambodia, Laos | |
 Thailand
|
400,000 (2006) |
 Cambodia
|
37,700 (2009) |
 Laos
|
42,800 (2005) |
| Languages | |
| Kuy, others | |
| Religion | |
| Animism (or Satsana Phi), Theravada Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Brao, Ta Oi, Khmer | |
The Kuy are an indigenous ethnic group of mainland Southeast Asia. The native lands of the Kuy range from the southern Khorat Plateau in Northeast Thailand east to the banks of the Mekong river in southern Laos and south to northern central Cambodia. The Kuy are an ethnic minority in all three countries, where they live as "hill tribes" or Montagnards. Their language is classified as a Katuic language of the Mon-Khmer language family and, as such, is related to the Khmer language of Cambodia. The Thais, Lao and Khmer traditionally recognize the Kuy as the aboriginal inhabitants of the region and refer to them as Khmer Boran (Khmer), meaning "ancient Khmer" or Khamen Pa Dong (Thai: เขมรป่าดง; rtgs: Khamen Pa Dong, "Jungle Khmer people"). The word kuy in the Kuy language means "people" or "human being"; alternate English spellings include Kui, Kuoy and Kuay, while forms similar to "Suay" or "Suei" are derived from the Thai/Lao exonyms meaning "those who pay tribute". The Kuy are known as skilled Mahouts, or elephant trainers, and many Kuy villages are employed in finding, taming and selling elephants.
The Kuy are found in a region of mainland Southeast Asia roughly between the Dangrek Mountains and the Mun River, straddling the borders where Thailand, Cambodia and Laos meet. The majority, over 80%, live in Thailand in the provinces of Surin, Buriram, Srisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. From Ubon Ratchathani, their range continues over the Lao border where another 43,000 live in Savannakhet, Salavan and Champasak provinces along both banks of the Mekong. Across the Cambodian border, approximately 38,000 Kuy live in mainly in Preah Vihear, Steung Treng and northern Kampong Thom with a small population in Kratie.
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Wikipedia