The Spanish word 'menor' (meaning 'smaller' or 'minor') comes from the Latin word 'minor', which had the same meaning of 'smaller' or 'lesser'. The Latin 'minor' itself was formed by combining the root 'minus' (meaning 'less') with the comparative suffix '-ior'. This suffix '-ior' was used in Latin to form comparative adjectives, similar to how we use '-er' in English (like big → bigger). As Latin evolved into Spanish, 'minor' naturally transformed into 'menor', following regular sound changes between the languages.

Some related Spanish words include 'menos' (meaning 'less' or 'minus'), which comes from the same Latin root 'minus'. You might also encounter 'minoría' (minority) and 'minúsculo' (tiny, minuscule), which share this common ancestry emphasizing the concept of 'lessness' or being smaller.

English speakers can easily remember 'menor' by connecting it to several English words that share the same Latin origin. The most obvious is 'minor', which is nearly identical in both spelling and meaning. Other related English words include 'minus', 'minimize', and 'minimum' - all of which carry the core concept of 'lessness' or reduction. The word 'diminish' also comes from this family, combining 'de-' (down) with the same root meaning 'less'.