'congenital' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'congenitalis', where 'con-' meant 'with, together' and the root from 'gignere' (via 'gen-') meant 'to beget, to produce'.

'congenitalis' in Medieval/Latin evolved into Middle English 'congenital' and then into the modern English adjective 'congenital', from which the adverb 'congenitally' is formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Initially it meant 'existing with (born with)'; over time it has retained this sense and now commonly means 'present at birth' or 'inborn'.