'tellurium' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'tellurium', where the Latin root 'tellus' (root 'tellur-') meant 'earth' and the suffix '-ium' denoted an elemental metal or chemical element.

'tellurium' changed from New Latin 'tellurium', the name given in the late 18th century after the element's discovery, and was adopted into modern English as 'tellurium'.

Initially it meant 'of the earth' or 'earthly' (from Latin), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the chemical element with symbol Te'.