ðə tˈɜːm "lˈɪθətɹˌɑːf" ɪz fɹʌm ɡɹˈiːk lˈɪθoʊz lˈæmdəaɪˈoʊɾəθˈiːɾəˈoʊmɪkɹənsˈɪɡmə mˈiːnɪŋ "ɹˈɑːk" ænd tɹˈɑːfoʊz tˈaʊɹˈoʊˈoʊmɪkɹənfˈaɪˈoʊmɪkɹənsˈɪɡmə mˈiːnɪŋ "kənsˈuːmɚ"; lˈɪɾɚɹəli, ɪt mˈeɪ biː ɹˈɛd "ˈiːɾɚz ʌv ɹˈɑːk".
The term "lithotroph" is from Greek lithos (λίθος) meaning "rock" and trōphos (τροφοσ) meaning "consumer"; literally, it may be read "eaters of rock".