bˈoʊθ ðə dʒˈɛnəs nˈeɪm ɪmpˈeɪʃənz"ɪmpˈeɪʃəns" ɪn lˈætɪn ænd kˈɑːmən nˈeɪm spˈɑːɾᵻd tˈʌtʃmˌiːnˌɑːt ɹᵻfˈɜː tə hˌaʊ ɪts sˈiːdz wɛn ɹˈaɪp pˈɑːp ˈoʊpən ˌɔn tˈʌtʃ.
Both the genus name Impatiens ("impatience" in Latin) and common name spotted touch-me-not refer to how its seeds when ripe pop open on touch.