The Spanish word 'malanga' comes directly from the Kikongo word 'ma-lánga', which referred to an edible plant with tubers and leaves. Kikongo is a Bantu language spoken in parts of central Africa, particularly in the Congo region. This word was likely brought to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean through the tragic Atlantic slave trade, as the malanga plant became an important food crop in these regions. Today in Spanish, 'malanga' specifically refers to Xanthosoma sagittifolium, a tropical plant prized for its edible tubers and leaves that remains an important food staple in Caribbean and Latin American cuisine.

As 'malanga' entered Spanish directly from Kikongo, there aren't any simpler or more common Spanish words that share its etymology. This is common for words describing native African or American plants that were incorporated into Spanish during the colonial period.

There aren't any common English words directly related to 'malanga', as it's a borrowing from an African language. In English, this plant is sometimes called 'malanga' (borrowed from Spanish) or more commonly 'yautia' or 'cocoyam'.