the word 'sylvan' entered english in the 16th century from the latin 'silvanus', meaning 'of the woods'. latin 'silva' (forest, wood) is the direct source. the spelling alteration from 'i' to 'y' was a renaissance affectation, linking the word to greek 'hylē' (matter, wood) for a learned, classical feel, though they are not etymologically related. the term preserves its original latin sense, moving from a proper name for a roman god of forests to a general adjective describing anything pertaining to or inhabiting wooded areas.

the word is a simplex loanword from latin. it does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern english spelling.