'neutrino' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'neutrino', a diminutive of 'neutro', where the suffix '-ino' meant 'little', so the whole meant 'little neutral (one)'.

'neutrino' was coined in Italian usage in the early 20th century (notably adopted by physicists such as Enrico Fermi around 1933) and was borrowed directly into English scientific vocabulary as 'neutrino'.

Initially, the term literally meant 'little neutral one' (a diminutive form), but over time it evolved into the technical name for the specific neutral, very low-mass subatomic particle.