'austrophile' originates from the combining form 'Austro-' (from Latin 'Austria', ultimately from Old High German 'Ostarrîchi') and Greek 'philos', where 'philos' meant 'loving' or 'fond of'.

'austrophile' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'Austro-' with the Greek-derived suffix '-phile' (from 'philos'), following the pattern of similar formations such as 'Anglophile' and 'Francophile'.

Initially, it meant 'a lover or admirer of Austria', and over time this core meaning has remained relatively stable in modern usage.