The precise origin of "wonky" is obscure, but it emerged in British English in the early 20th century. It is thought to be a playful alteration or blend of dialectal words like "wankle" (Old English wancol, meaning unsteady) or influenced by "wonk," an American term for a studious person, though this connection is debated. The word's journey reflects a pattern where informal, onomatopoeic-sounding terms are coined to describe a state of physical instability or malfunction. Its logic is inherently sensory, evoking the feeling of being off-balance or not quite right, which has extended from describing wobbly objects to describing faulty systems or a feeling of slight sickness.

The word "wonky" is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely a blend or variant of older dialectal terms. It is considered a colloquial British English formation.