The Spanish verb 'alojar' (meaning 'to lodge' or 'to accommodate') traces its origins back through Occitan 'alotjar' to the Germanic word 'laubja', which meant 'shelter made of foliage' or 'arbor'. This etymology shows how the concept evolved from a simple leafy shelter to the more general meaning of providing accommodation or lodging. The Germanic root referred specifically to natural shelters made from tree branches and leaves, but over time, as the word passed through Occitan into Spanish, its meaning broadened to include any form of temporary housing or accommodation.

A common related Spanish word is 'alojamiento' (lodging, accommodation), which is the noun form derived directly from 'alojar'. Another related term is 'desalojar' (to evict, to vacate), which combines the base verb with the prefix 'des-' to create its opposite meaning.

The English word 'lodge' and its derivatives like 'lodging' share the same Germanic root 'laubja' with Spanish 'alojar'. This connection is evident both in meaning and in some sound similarity. Just as 'alojar' evolved from the concept of a leafy shelter, the English 'lodge' originally referred to a small house or temporary shelter in the woods, and later came to mean any place where someone stays temporarily. The word 'lobby' is also related, as it originally referred to a covered walkway or shelter, derived from the same Germanic root.