'stomata' originates from New Latin (plural of 'stoma'), specifically from the Ancient Greek word 'stóma' (Greek 'στόμα'), where 'stóma' meant 'mouth' or 'opening'.

'stomata' entered scientific English via New Latin from Greek 'stóma'; the Greek 'stóma' gave Latin and Medieval scholarly usage 'stoma', which became the modern English 'stoma' (singular) and the classical plural 'stomata'.

Initially it meant 'mouth' or general 'opening' in Greek; over time in English it came to be used specifically for biological openings such as plant leaf pores and surgical openings, while retaining the core sense of an 'opening'.