The Spanish word 'olivar' meaning 'olive grove' has its roots in Ancient Greek 'elaia' (ἐλαία) meaning 'olive', which passed into Latin as 'oliva'. From Latin, it evolved into the Spanish word 'olivo' meaning 'olive tree'. The suffix '-ar' in Spanish is used to indicate a place where something grows or is found in abundance. When combined with 'olivo', it forms 'olivar' - literally a place where olive trees grow, or an olive grove.

Several common Spanish words are related to 'olivar'. The simpler word 'olivo' means 'olive tree', while 'oliva' or 'aceituna' both mean 'olive' (the fruit). These words share the same Greek-Latin ancestry and form a family of olive-related terms in Spanish.

English speakers can easily connect 'olivar' to the English word 'olive', which comes from the same Greek-Latin source. Other related English words include 'olive oil', 'olivaceous' (meaning olive-colored), and the female name 'Olive'. The connection between these words and 'olivar' is clear both in meaning and form, as they all relate to olives and share the 'oliv-' root.