The Spanish word 'fritanga' comes from combining the Spanish word 'frito' (meaning 'fried') with the augmentative/pejorative suffix '-anga'. The word 'frito' itself derives from Latin 'frictus', which was the past participle of the Latin verb 'frigere' meaning 'to fry or roast'. The suffix '-anga' adds a collective or sometimes slightly pejorative meaning, so 'fritanga' refers to an assortment of fried foods, often with a casual or street-food connotation.

Some simpler related Spanish words include 'frito' (fried), which is very commonly used in Spanish cuisine. You might recognize it in dishes like 'huevos fritos' (fried eggs) or 'frijoles refritos' (refried beans). The verb 'freír' (to fry) is also part of this word family. These all share the same Latin root 'frigere' meaning 'to fry'.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'fritter' (a type of fried food) and 'fricassee' (a dish of cut-up meat stewed or fried and served in its own gravy), which also derive from the same Latin root 'frigere'. The word 'fry' itself, while Germanic in immediate origin, is believed to have been ultimately borrowed from this same Latin source.