'non-vowel' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'vowel', which comes from Latin 'vocalis', meaning 'vocal'.

'vowel' changed from the Latin word 'vocalis' and eventually became the modern English word 'vowel'.

Initially, 'vowel' meant 'vocal sound', but over time it evolved to specifically refer to speech sounds produced without any significant constriction of the airflow.