The Spanish word 'chumpa', meaning 'short jacket', has an interesting journey that traces back to Arabic. It comes from the English word 'jumper', which referred to a short coat. The English 'jumper' evolved from the Scots word 'jupe' meaning 'leather jacket', which in turn came from the Arabic word 'jubba', referring to a long outer garment. This shows how the meaning gradually shifted from a long outer garment to specifically denoting a shorter jacket, while the pronunciation evolved from 'jubba' to 'jumper' to 'chumpa'.

The change from initial 'j' to 'ch' when the word entered Spanish is a common phonetic adaptation, as Spanish often transforms the English 'j' sound into the 'ch' sound that's more natural in Spanish pronunciation.

While 'chumpa' is relatively unique in Spanish and doesn't have many common Spanish relatives, it's worth noting that in some Latin American countries, particularly in Central America, this is a very common everyday word for jacket or sweater.

English speakers can easily remember 'chumpa' by relating it to the English word 'jumper', which shares the same etymology. While 'jumper' in British English refers to what Americans would call a sweater, both words refer to upper body garments. The similarity in sound between 'jumper' and 'chumpa' makes it easy to remember - just think of the 'j' changing to 'ch' in Spanish pronunciation.