'baritone' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'baritono', which comes from Greek 'barýtonos' composed of 'barys' meaning 'heavy' or 'deep' and 'tonos' meaning 'tone' or 'pitch'.

'baritone' changed from Greek 'barýtonos' to Italian 'baritono' (and French forms such as 'baryton'), and eventually became the modern English word 'baritone'.

Initially, it meant 'deep-toned' (literally 'heavy tone'), but over time it came to refer specifically to a male singing voice between tenor and bass and to instruments with that range.