The Chinese word 椭圆机 is formed by combining the term 椭圆, meaning "ellipse", with the character 机, meaning "machine". 椭圆 itself consists of 椭, conveying "oval" or "elliptical", and 圆, meaning "circle" or "round", together describing an elliptical shape. Adding 机 specifies a device that operates with an elliptical motion, resulting in a compound that directly denotes an elliptical exercise machine.