The Spanish word 'carpeta', meaning 'folder' or 'mat', has an interesting journey through textile-related origins. It starts with the Latin verb 'carpere', which meant 'to pluck' or 'to work with fabric'. This evolved into Medieval Latin 'carpita' meaning 'coarse fabric', which then became 'carpite' in Medieval French. The word continued its journey through French 'carpette' meaning 'small carpet', before finally reaching Spanish as 'carpeta'. The evolution from a term about fabric to meaning 'folder' in Spanish likely comes from the fact that folders, like carpets, are flat objects that cover a surface.

While 'carpeta' itself is a commonly used Spanish word for 'folder', there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words that share its exact etymology. However, Spanish speakers might encounter related terms like 'carpetazo' (meaning to close or dismiss a matter, literally 'a blow with a folder') which is derived from 'carpeta'.

English speakers can easily remember 'carpeta' by connecting it to the English word 'carpet', as they share the same etymological root. While 'carpet' retained its meaning related to floor covering in English, the Spanish 'carpeta' evolved to primarily mean 'folder' or 'mat'. Both words still carry the notion of something that covers a surface, whether it's a carpet covering a floor or a folder covering and protecting documents.