ðə tˈɜːm kˈɑːɹmɛn ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə ɹˈuːt kˈænɚ mˈiːnɪŋ "tə sˈɪŋ"wɪððə pˈæsɪv nˈɑːmɪnəl ˈɛndɪŋ mˈɛn ðˈɛɹfoːɹ "ɐ θˈɪŋ sˈʌŋ," sˌiːˈɛf. flˈuːmɛn fɹʌm flˈuːɹə ɔːɹ nˈuːmɛn fɹʌm nˈuːɹə.
The term carmen is derived from the root canere (meaning "to sing") with the passive nominal ending -men (therefore "a thing sung," cf. flumen from fluere or numen from nuere).