The Spanish word 'himno' (meaning 'hymn') traces its origins back to ancient Greek through Latin. It comes from the Greek word 'hymnos' (ὕμνος), which referred to a poetic composition dedicated to the gods. This word was borrowed into Latin as 'hymnus', keeping its religious and musical meaning, and eventually evolved into the Spanish 'himno'.

The word maintained its core meaning throughout its journey from Greek to modern Spanish, consistently referring to songs of praise or religious songs, though in modern usage it can also refer to national anthems and other ceremonial songs.

While 'himno' itself is a relatively common Spanish word, there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words directly related to it etymologically. However, you might encounter related words like 'hímnario' (hymnal) or 'hímnico' (hymnic), which are derived from 'himno'.

English speakers will find it easy to remember 'himno' because it's very similar to the English word 'hymn', which shares the same Greek origin. The English 'hymn' also came from Greek 'hymnos' through Latin 'hymnus', making it a direct cognate of Spanish 'himno'. The main difference is that English dropped the final vowel sound while Spanish maintained it. Related English words include 'hymnal' and 'hymnody'.