'chlorophyll' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'khlōros' meaning 'green' and 'phullon' meaning 'leaf'.

'khlōrophullon' transformed into the French word 'chlorophylle', and eventually became the modern English word 'chlorophyll'.

Initially, it meant 'green leaf', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'green pigment essential for photosynthesis'.