'Apinae' originates from New Latin, specifically from the Latin word 'Apis' where 'Apis' meant 'bee', combined with the taxonomic suffix '-inae' indicating a subfamily.

'Apinae' was formed in modern (New) Latin by attaching the suffix '-inae' to the classical Latin root 'Apis' and became the standard name for a bee subfamily in zoological nomenclature.

Initially it referred to things relating to 'Apis' (the bee), and over time it evolved into the formal taxonomic name 'Apinae' denoting the bee subfamily.