Werbalny

Werbalny is a Polish adjective that translates to “verbal” in English. It refers to anything that is expressed or communicated through spoken or written words rather than through actions, gestures, or written signs alone. The term is widely used in linguistics, law, psychology, and everyday speech to distinguish between verbal and non‑verbal forms of communication.

In legal contexts, werbalny dowód (verbal evidence) is testimony given orally, as opposed to written affidavits or documented proof. Courts often assess the reliability of werbalny dowód based on witness credibility, context, and consistency with other evidence. In business and negotiations, a werbalny umowa (verbal agreement) denotes an arrangement that has not been formalized in writing; such agreements are legally enforceable in many jurisdictions but can be difficult to prove.

The term also appears in psychology to describe verbal behaviors in therapy or in studies of communication. Researchers differentiate between werbalny zachowanie (verbal behavior) and non‑verbal cues such as facial expressions or body language. Werbalny feedback, for example, is explicit commentary or instructions delivered in spoken or written form, contrasting with silent or implicit feedback.

Related words include werbalizować (to verbalize), which means to express thoughts or feelings in words, and werbalizacja (verbalization), the process of turning non‑verbal ideas into speech or text. In everyday language, werbalny is sometimes used facetiously to highlight a tendency toward talking rather than acting, as in “Jego język jest bardzo werbalny” (His speech is very verbose).

The adjective also fits within the broader category of linguistic expressions, aligning closely with terms like oracy, discourse, or communication. Because it is a standard adjective derived from the noun “słowo” (word), it is uninflected in meaning but can appear in various grammatical forms, agreeing with gender, number, and case in the Polish language.