'gametangia' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'gametangium', where 'gamet-' comes from Greek 'gamē/ gamētēs' meaning 'marriage' or 'spouse' (hence 'gamete') and '-angium' comes from Greek 'angeion' meaning 'vessel' or 'container'.

'gametangium' was coined in New Latin/scientific Latin from the Greek roots 'gamē' + 'angeion' and entered botanical and mycological English usage in the 19th century; the plural follows classical pluralization as 'gametangia'.

Initially, it literally meant 'gamete vessel'; over time it became the standard technical term for the organ or cell in which gametes form in various groups of plants, algae, and fungi.