The Spanish verb 'leer' (to read) comes from Old Spanish 'leger', which in turn derives from the Latin verb 'legere'. Interestingly, the Latin 'legere' had a broader meaning than just 'to read' - it also meant 'to choose' or 'to select'. Over time, as the word evolved from Latin through Old Spanish to modern Spanish, its meaning narrowed to focus specifically on the act of reading.

Some related Spanish words include 'lectura' (reading), 'lector' (reader), and 'legible' (legible). All these words share the same Latin root 'legere' and maintain connections to the act of reading.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'legible' (able to be read), 'lecture' (originally meaning 'reading', now meaning a formal speech), and 'legend' (originally meaning 'text to be read'). These English words also trace back to the Latin 'legere', showing how the concepts of reading and selecting have evolved in different languages.