'aphony' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphōnia', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'phōnē' meant 'voice'.

'aphony' changed from the Medieval/Modern Latin/French medical and literary forms (e.g. Latin 'aphonia', French 'aphonie') and eventually became the modern English word 'aphony'.

Initially, it meant 'lack of voice or sound' in Greek and medical usage, and over time it has retained the same basic meaning in English as 'absence of sound' or 'loss of voice'.