'species-neutral' is a compound of the nouns 'species' and the adjective 'neutral'. 'species' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'species', where the root 'spec-' meant 'look' or 'appearance' and 'species' meant 'appearance, kind'. 'neutral' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'neutralis' (from 'neuter'), where 'ne-' meant 'not' and 'uter' meant 'either (of two)'.

'species' entered English via Old French and Medieval Latin as 'species' and developed into the Modern English word 'species'; 'neutral' came into English from Latin 'neutralis' through Old French and Middle English, and the compound 'species-neutral' is a modern English formation used especially in scientific and technical contexts.

The individual components originally referred to 'appearance/kind' ('species') and 'neither of two / not taking sides' ('neutral'); combined in modern usage they form a compound meaning 'not limited to a particular species' or 'applicable across species'.