The Spanish word 'nasal' comes from the Latin word 'nasalis', meaning 'relating to the nose'. The Latin 'nasalis' was formed by combining two parts: the noun 'nasus' meaning 'nose' and the suffix '-alis' meaning 'relating to' or 'pertaining to'. This formation pattern, where '-alis' is added to a noun to create an adjective describing something related to that noun, was common in Latin and continues to be productive in both Spanish and English.

Some related Spanish words that share the same root include 'nariz' (nose), 'nasa' (nostril), and 'nasalizar' (to nasalize). All these words derive from the same Latin root 'nasus' and relate to the nose or nasal features.

English speakers might recognize this word easily as it's identical to the English word 'nasal'. Both Spanish and English inherited this word from Latin 'nasalis'. Other related English words include 'nose' (which comes from the same Indo-European root as Latin 'nasus'), 'nostril', and 'nasalize'. The medical prefix 'naso-' (as in 'nasopharyngeal') also comes from this same Latin root.