The Spanish word 'maíz' (meaning 'corn' or 'maize') comes directly from the Taíno word 'mahís', which had the same meaning. Taíno was the principal language of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean when Spanish conquistadors and settlers arrived in the Americas. This is one of many words that Spanish borrowed from indigenous American languages, particularly for items and concepts that were new to Europeans upon their arrival in the Americas. The word has remained remarkably stable in both form and meaning since its borrowing.

Since 'maíz' is borrowed from Taíno, it doesn't have etymologically related simpler words in Spanish. However, it has generated several derivative words in Spanish, such as 'maizal' (cornfield) and 'maicena' (cornstarch), which might be helpful for Spanish learners to know.

The English word 'maize' is closely related to Spanish 'maíz', as both languages borrowed it from Taíno 'mahís'. While 'maize' is somewhat formal or technical in English (with 'corn' being the more common term), it's the primary word for this crop in Spanish. The English word 'maze' is not related, despite the similar spelling.