'ungraceful' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'graceful', which comes from the Latin word 'gratia', meaning 'favor' or 'charm'.

'gratia' transformed into the Old French word 'grace', and eventually became the modern English word 'graceful'. The prefix 'un-' was added to form 'ungraceful'.

Initially, 'graceful' meant 'full of grace or charm', and 'ungraceful' evolved to mean 'lacking grace or charm'.