Correct spelling for the English word "gouw" is [ɡˈa͡ʊw], [ɡˈaʊw], [ɡ_ˈaʊ_w] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
The word "gouw" has its etymology in the Middle Dutch term "gouwe" or "gou", which meant "district" or "region". The term can be traced back further to the Old Dutch word "gouwi" or "gouwa", which also referred to a jurisdictional unit. Ultimately, the origins of the word "gouw" can be linked to the Proto-Germanic root "*gawi" or "*gaujō", meaning "area" or "country". This term had cognates in several other Germanic languages, including Old High German "gouwa" and Old English "geō". Over time, the meaning of "gouw" has evolved, and it is currently used mainly in Dutch to denote a historical district or region.