The Spanish word 'cráter' comes from Latin 'crater' meaning 'bowl' or 'mixing vessel', which in turn was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'krater' (κρατήρ). The Greek word was formed by combining the verb 'kerannymi' (κεράννυμι) meaning 'to mix' with the agent suffix '-ter' (-τηρ). Originally, a krater was a large vessel used in ancient Greece for mixing wine with water during social gatherings and ceremonies. Over time, the meaning expanded to describe any bowl-shaped depression, particularly the mouth of a volcano, due to its similar shape to these ancient mixing vessels.

While 'cráter' itself is a relatively common Spanish word, there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words that share its Greek etymology. This is because it comes from a very specific Ancient Greek term for a type of vessel.

The English word 'crater' is a direct cognate of Spanish 'cráter', with both words preserving the same meaning and very similar spelling from their Latin and Greek origins. In English, like in Spanish, it primarily refers to the bowl-shaped depression at the top of a volcano or one formed by a meteorite impact. The only difference is the addition of the accent mark in Spanish to maintain the original stress pattern.