'andantino' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'andantino,' which is the diminutive of 'andante,' meaning 'walking' or 'going' in a moderate tempo.

'Andante' in Italian, meaning 'walking,' was modified to 'andantino' to indicate a slightly different tempo, and this term was adopted into English musical terminology.

Initially, it meant 'a little andante' (slightly faster or slower than andante, depending on context), but over time it has come to mean 'slightly faster than andante' in most modern usage.