'alanine' originates from German, specifically the word 'Alanin', where 'Ala-' was derived from 'aldehyde' and '-nin' was a common suffix for amino acids.

'Ala-' was derived from 'aldehyde' and '-nin' was a common suffix for amino acids, eventually forming the modern English word 'alanine'.

Initially, it referred to a specific amino acid, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.