The word "甘肃省" is formed by combining the first characters from the names of two historical prefectures in the region, "甘州" (Gānzhōu) and "肃州" (Sùzhōu), with "甘" representing Gānzhōu and "肃" representing Sùzhōu, and then appending "省" to denote its status as a provincial administrative division.