'assyriologue' originates from French, specifically the word 'assyriologue', where the prefix 'Assyri-' referred to 'Assyria' (the ancient region/people) and the suffix '-logue' (from Greek -logós) meant 'one who speaks of or studies'.

'assyriologue' was formed in French from 'Assyriologie' + '-ogue' (itself reflecting Greek '-logia'/'-logos') and was later borrowed into English as a rare learned term 'assyriologue'.

Initially it denoted 'one who studies Assyria (Assyriology)', and over time it has retained that specialist meaning in modern usage.