'dyspneic' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'dys-' and 'pnoē' (via the noun 'dyspnoia'), where 'dys-' meant 'bad' or 'difficult' and 'pnoē' meant 'breath'.

'dyspneic' was formed from the medical noun 'dyspnea' (Greek 'dyspnoia'), which entered English via Latin/medical usage; the adjective-forming suffix '-ic' was later added to create 'dyspneic'.

Initially the root referred to 'difficult or abnormal breathing'; over time the adjective 'dyspneic' came to be used in modern medical and general contexts to mean 'experiencing shortness of breath'.