The Spanish word 'moda' meaning 'fashion' comes from the French word 'mode' (also meaning 'fashion' or 'manner'), which in turn derives from the Latin word 'modus' meaning 'manner' or 'measure'. This evolution shows how the concept of a way of doing things or a manner gradually specialized to refer specifically to the way people dress and present themselves - their fashion.

A related Spanish word is 'modo' (meaning 'way' or 'manner'), which comes from the same Latin root 'modus'. While 'moda' specifically refers to fashion, 'modo' retained the broader meaning of manner or way of doing things, as in the phrase 'de todos modos' (anyway) or 'a mi modo' (in my way).

Several common English words are related to 'moda' through the shared Latin ancestor 'modus'. These include 'mode' (as in 'mode of transportation' or 'fashion mode'), 'modern' (originally referring to the current manner or fashion of things), and 'moderate' (from the idea of measuring or keeping within bounds). The word 'mood' is also distantly related, having evolved from the idea of manner or way of feeling.