The Spanish word 'duende' (meaning 'goblin' or 'house spirit') has an interesting evolution from the Latin word 'dominus', meaning 'master' or 'owner'. The Latin 'dominus' first evolved into Old Spanish 'duen' (meaning 'owner'). This was commonly used in the phrase 'duen de casa' meaning 'owner of the house', combining 'duen' with 'de' ('of') and 'casa' ('house'). Over time, this phrase transformed into 'duende', and its meaning shifted from referring to the owner of a house to a supernatural creature - a goblin or house spirit that was thought to inhabit homes.

The Spanish word 'dueño' (meaning 'owner') is a simpler and more common relative of 'duende', as both derive from Latin 'dominus'. While 'dueño' retained the original meaning of ownership, 'duende' evolved to describe a mythological house spirit. The word 'casa' from the original phrase 'duen de casa' remains one of the most basic and essential Spanish words, meaning 'house' or 'home'.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'dominate' and 'domain', which also come from Latin 'dominus'. While 'duende' took a supernatural turn to mean 'goblin', these English cognates maintained meanings related to power and control, similar to the original Latin sense of 'master' or 'owner'. The word 'dominion' particularly reflects the idea of ownership and control that was present in the original Latin word.