The Spanish word 'mutante' (meaning 'mutant' or 'changing') comes from the Latin verb 'mutare' meaning 'to change'. It was formed by combining the Spanish verb 'mutar' (inherited from Latin 'mutare') with the Spanish suffix '-nte', which forms present participles. This construction literally means 'changing' or 'one who changes', similar to how English forms words like 'changing' or 'mutating'.

Some simpler related Spanish words include 'mutar' (to change, mutate), 'mutable' (changeable), and 'mutación' (mutation). All these words share the basic concept of change or transformation from their common Latin root 'mutare'.

English speakers can easily relate 'mutante' to several familiar English words that come from the same Latin source: 'mutant', 'mutate', 'mutation', and 'mutable'. The connection is quite straightforward since both languages borrowed these terms from Latin 'mutare', and they maintain similar meanings related to change or transformation. The English word 'mutant' is particularly close in both form and meaning to the Spanish 'mutante'.