The Spanish word 'cornucopia' comes directly from the Latin word of the same spelling, which literally meant 'horn of plenty'. This Latin word was formed by combining two elements: 'cornu' meaning 'horn' and 'copia' meaning 'abundance' or 'plenty'. The cornucopia was a symbol from classical antiquity, depicted as a large horn-shaped container overflowing with fruits, flowers, and other signs of abundance.

Some related Spanish words include 'cuerno' (horn), which also comes from Latin 'cornu', and 'copia' (copy, abundance), which shares its origin with the second part of 'cornucopia'. The word 'copioso' (abundant, plentiful) is also related through the Latin 'copia'.

English speakers might recognize 'cornucopia' as the same word exists in English with the same meaning. Other related English words include 'horn' (though this comes from Germanic rather than Latin roots), 'corn' (in some uses meaning 'horn-like'), 'copy' and 'copious' (from Latin 'copia'), and words like 'unicorn' which use the same Latin root 'cornu' for horn.