'pseudo-paranormal' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'pseudo-' from Greek 'pseudos' and the adjective 'paranormal' (from 'para-' + 'normal'), where 'pseudos' meant 'false', 'para-' meant 'beyond', and 'normal' meant 'conforming to a norm'.

'pseudo-' comes from Greek 'pseudos' (via Late Latin/Modern English use as a prefix meaning 'false'), while 'paranormal' was coined in the early 20th century from Greek/Latin elements 'para-' + 'normal'; the compound 'pseudo-paranormal' was formed in Modern English by combining these elements to describe things that only appear to be beyond the normal.

Initially, 'pseudo-' meant 'false' and 'paranormal' meant 'beyond normal'; combined, the compound's meaning has come to be 'seemingly paranormal but not genuinely so'.