'non-verbal' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'verbal' from Latin 'verbalis', which means 'pertaining to words'.

'verbal' changed from the Latin word 'verbalis' and eventually became the modern English word 'verbal'.

Initially, 'verbal' meant 'pertaining to words', and 'non-verbal' evolved to mean 'not involving words'.