Origina aŭ fonda mito estas mito kiu celas priskribi la originon de kelkaj karakteroj de la natura aŭ socia mondo. Unu tipo de origina mito estas la kosmogonia mito, kiu priskribas la kreadon de la mondo. Tamen, multaj kulturoj havas storiojn pri kosmogonia mito, kiu priskribas la originon de naturaj fenomenoj kaj de homaj institucioj ene de antaŭekzistanta universo.

Ĉe klasikaj studoj, la vorto aition (el la Antikva greka αἴτιον, "kaŭzo") estas foje uzata por mito kiu klarigas originon, partikulare kiel objekto aŭ kutimo aperis.

• Mitoj pri Tero
• Kosmogonio

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