'antiphonarium' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'antiphonarium', ultimately derived from Greek elements where 'anti-' meant 'in return' or 'opposite' and 'phōnē' meant 'voice' or 'sound'.

'antiphonarium' came into Medieval Latin from Greek 'antiphōna'/'antiphōnos' (responsive song/voice) and was used in ecclesiastical Latin; it entered English usage as a technical term for a book of antiphons.

Initially it referred broadly to the responsive chant or the concept of a responsive voice; over time it came to denote specifically the book that contains those antiphons.