The Spanish word 'estasis' comes from Latin 'stasis', which was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'στάσις' (stasis). The Greek word meant 'standing' or 'stoppage', and this meaning was preserved as it passed through Latin into Spanish. The Spanish form simply added an initial 'e-' to make the word easier to pronounce, as Spanish typically avoids words beginning with 's' followed by a consonant.

The word 'estasis' is related to other Spanish words that begin with 'est-' or 'esta-', such as 'estar' (to be, to stay) and 'estado' (state), though these come from a different but related Latin root 'stare' (to stand). These words share the basic concept of remaining in a fixed position or state.

English speakers might recognize 'estasis' from the English word 'stasis', which means exactly the same thing and comes from the same Greek root. This word appears in many English scientific terms like 'hemostasis' (the stopping of blood flow) and 'homeostasis' (maintaining stability in a system). The word 'static', meaning 'not moving or changing', is also related.