'cephalalgia' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kephalē,' meaning 'head,' and 'algos,' meaning 'pain.'

'kephalē' and 'algos' combined to form the Greek word 'kephalalgia,' which eventually became the modern English word 'cephalalgia.'

Initially, it meant 'pain in the head,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.