'bandurria' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'bandurria', ultimately tracing back to Latin/Greek roots related to the ancient instrument 'pandura' (Greek 'pandoura').

'bandurria' changed from Medieval Latin/Old Spanish forms such as 'banduria'/'bandurria' and was borrowed into English as the modern loanword 'bandurria'.

Initially it referred broadly to a 'pandura'-type stringed instrument; over time it came to denote the specific short-necked Spanish plucked instrument now called 'bandurria'.