ðɪ ˈɛlɪmənts ʌvðə nˈeɪm wɜː dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə nˈeɪmz ʌv tˈuː sˈʌnz ʌv nˈoʊʌ æz ɐtˈɛstᵻd ɪnðə bˈʊk ʌv dʒˈɛnᵻsˌɪsᵻz tˈeɪbəl ʌv nˈeɪʃənz pˈæsɪdʒ: "sɛmˈɪɾɪk" fɹʌmðə fˈɜːstbˈɔːɹn ʃˈɛm, ænd "hæmˈɪɾɪk" fɹʌmðə sˈɛkəndbˈɔːɹn hˈæm.
The elements of the name were derived from the names of two sons of Noah as attested in the Book of Genesis's Table of Nations passage: "Semitic" from the first-born Shem, and "Hamitic" from the second-born Ham ().