'ammine' originates from 'ammonia', specifically the word 'ammonium', where 'ammon' referred to the ancient Egyptian god Amun, associated with the ammonium chloride deposits found near the temple of Amun.

'ammonium' changed from the Latin word 'ammoniacus' and eventually became the modern English word 'ammine'.

Initially, it meant 'related to ammonia', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a coordination compound with ammonia'.