The Spanish word 'chala' comes directly from the Quechua word 'chhalla', which means 'dried corn stalk'. This is one of many words that Spanish borrowed from indigenous South American languages after the Spanish conquest of the Americas. In Spanish, 'chala' retained its original meaning of 'dried corn stalk' but also expanded to refer to a rustic sandal, likely because such sandals were traditionally made from dried corn stalks or similar plant materials in some regions.

Since 'chala' comes from Quechua rather than Latin or Greek roots, there aren't many etymologically related simpler Spanish words. This word stands somewhat isolated in Spanish vocabulary as one of the terms borrowed from indigenous American languages.

There aren't any etymologically related English words since 'chala' comes from Quechua, a Native American language family that had no contact with English until relatively recent times. Any similar-sounding English words would be purely coincidental.