'gynophilia' originates from Greek (via New/Neo-Latin combining forms), specifically from the Greek word 'gynē' and the Greek noun 'philia', where 'gynē' meant 'woman' and 'philia' meant 'affection, friendship, love'.

'gynophilia' was formed in modern scientific and psychological vocabulary by joining the combining form 'gyn(o)-' (from Greek 'gynē') with '-philia' (from Greek 'philia') through New/Neo-Latin usage and later entered English as a technical term; the variant spelling 'gynephilia' also appears by direct transliteration of Greek elements.

Initially the Greek roots denoted general 'affection' or 'friendship' ('philia') toward 'women' ('gynē'); in modern usage the compound has narrowed to mean specifically sexual or romantic attraction to women or female-directed preference.