'spermatogonium' originates from Modern Latin, specifically the word 'spermatogonium', where the Greek root 'sperma' meant 'seed' and 'gonos' meant 'offspring' or 'generation'.

'spermatogonium' was coined in scientific Latin (late 19th century) from the Greek roots 'sperma' + 'gonos' and was adopted into English scientific usage with the same form.

Initially, the roots suggested a general 'seed/offspring unit', but over time the term evolved into the technical biological meaning of a specific 'male germ stem cell' in the testes.