'human-geographical' is a modern compound formed from 'human' and 'geographical'. 'geographical' ultimately originates from Greek, specifically the word 'geographia', where 'geo-' meant 'earth' and '-graphia' meant 'writing' or 'description'. 'human' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'humanus', meaning 'of man' or 'humane'.

'geographia' passed into Latin and then into Old French and Middle English, producing the English adjective 'geographical' in Modern English. 'human' came into English via Old French from Latin 'humanus'. The compound 'human-geographical' arose in modern academic usage by combining these established words.

The components originally meant 'earth-description' and 'of humans'; combined in academic English they evolved to mean 'relating to the description or study of human aspects of places', i.e., pertaining to human geography.