'cinnamon-flavored' originates from modern English, combining the noun 'cinnamon' and the adjective-forming use of 'flavored' (from 'flavor'), where 'cinnamon' ultimately comes from Greek 'kinnamomon' via Latin 'cinnamomum' and a Semitic source (e.g. Hebrew 'qinnamon'), and 'flavor' derives from Middle English 'flavour' (from Old French), denoting taste.

'cinnamon' entered English through Latin and Old French forms into Middle English as 'cinnamom'/'cinnamon'; 'flavor' entered Middle English as 'flavour' from Old French, and the past-participle/adjectival form 'flavored' was later used in modern English compounds such as 'cinnamon-flavored' to describe taste.

Initially the elements referred separately to the spice ('cinnamon') and to taste ('flavor'); the compound 'cinnamon-flavored' came to mean specifically 'having the taste or aroma of cinnamon', a sense that has remained consistent in modern usage.