'preconsonantal' originates from Latin and English formation: the prefix 'pre-' ultimately from Latin 'prae' meaning 'before', combined with 'consonantal' derived from Latin 'consonans', where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'sonare' meant 'to sound', plus the English adjectival suffix '-al'.

'preconsonantal' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae', via Old French/Latin influence) with 'consonantal' (from Latin 'consonans', via Old French 'consonant'), producing the modern English term 'preconsonantal'.

Initially it meant 'before a consonant (sound)', and over time the basic technical meaning has remained stable as 'occurring before a consonant sound'.