The current name for the volcano is composed of the Spanish word mocho and the native Mapudungun word choshuenco (pronounced choswenko). Mocho means short cut and refers to the headless or edgeless shape of Mocho's volcanic cone. The word choshuenco may be a corruption of the chodhuen and co which means yellow earth and water respectively. Another possible etymology is chod-hue and co which would mean place where there is water to dye yellow.