The Spanish pronoun 'nosotros' meaning 'we' has an interesting compound origin from Latin. It combines two Latin words: 'nos' meaning 'we' and 'alter' (in its accusative form 'alterum') meaning 'other'. Over time, 'alterum' evolved into Spanish 'otro' meaning 'other', while Latin 'nos' remained relatively unchanged in Spanish. The combination 'nosotros' literally means something like 'we others' and became the standard first-person plural pronoun in Spanish.

The simpler Spanish word 'nos' is still used as a reflexive or object pronoun meaning 'us', as in 'nos vemos' (we see each other/see you later). Additionally, 'otro' meaning 'other' or 'another' is a very common Spanish word that makes up the second part of 'nosotros'. Understanding these component parts can help remember that 'nosotros' is essentially a combination meaning 'we others'.

While English 'we' is not related to 'nosotros', there are some English words related to the 'otro' part, coming from Latin 'alter'. These include 'alter' itself, as in 'to alter' (to make other/different), 'alternate' (other option), and 'alteration' (change). This connection can help remember that 'nosotros' contains the concept of 'otherness' in its etymology.