The Spanish word 'mascota' (meaning 'mascot' or 'pet') comes to us through an interesting journey from southern France. It originated from the Provençal word 'masco' meaning 'witch', which evolved into 'mascoto' meaning 'charm' or 'amulet'. This then entered French as 'mascotte' meaning 'lucky charm' or 'mascot', before finally being adopted into Spanish as 'mascota'. The semantic evolution from 'witch' to 'pet' reflects how these terms were associated with bringing good luck or protection - from magical charms to the comfort and companionship of pets.

Since 'mascota' entered Spanish relatively recently through French, there aren't many simpler or more common Spanish words that share its etymology.

The English word 'mascot' is a direct relative of the Spanish 'mascota', as both come from the French word 'mascotte'. They were borrowed around the same time period and maintain very similar meanings - referring to a person, animal, or object thought to bring good luck. In English, we often use 'mascot' to refer to costumed characters representing sports teams, while in Spanish 'mascota' is more commonly used to refer to pets, though it can also mean 'mascot' in the English sense.