'phonophilia' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'phōnē' and 'philia', where 'phōnē' meant 'voice, sound' and 'philia' meant 'love'.

'phonophilia' is a modern English coinage formed by combining the Greek-derived combining form 'phono-' (from 'phōnē') and the suffix '-philia' (from 'philia'); it entered English as a specialized/technical term rather than through medieval English evolution.

Initially, it meant 'love of sound' and that core meaning has largely been preserved, though the term has remained specialized and uncommon in general usage.