'bambino' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'bambino', where the root 'bamb-' is from Late Latin 'bambinus' meaning 'little child' (likely imitative in origin).

'bambini' changed from the Late Latin word 'bambinus' which became Italian 'bambino' (singular) and its plural 'bambini', and was later borrowed into English in its Italian form 'bambini'.

Initially, it meant 'little child', but over time it has been used in English to mean 'children' (often with an Italian or affectionate nuance).