'ataxaphasia' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'ataxia' and 'aphasia', where 'a-' meant 'not/without', 'taxis' meant 'arrangement/coordination', and 'phasis'/'phasia' meant 'speech'.

'ataxaphasia' is a modern medical compound formed from Ancient Greek elements: 'a-' + 'taxis' (→ 'ataxia') and 'a-' + 'phasis' (→ 'aphasia'), combined in contemporary medical terminology to describe a speech disorder with ataxic features.

Initially, 'ataxia' meant 'lack of order or coordination' and 'aphasia' meant 'speechlessness or loss of speech'; over time the compound has come to be used in clinical contexts to denote a speech disorder marked by poor coordination of speech mechanisms alongside language impairment.