The Spanish word 'patilla' comes from combining two elements: the word 'pata' meaning 'leg' or 'foot' (particularly of an animal) and the diminutive suffix '-illa'. When these combine, they literally mean 'little leg/foot'. Interestingly, while this literal meaning makes sense, the word has evolved to primarily mean 'sideburn' in modern Spanish - likely because sideburns were seen as small extensions or 'legs' coming down the side of the face.

The most obvious related Spanish word is 'pata', meaning 'leg' or 'foot' (usually of an animal). This is a very common word that you'll encounter frequently in Spanish. You might also recognize the diminutive suffix '-illa' from other Spanish words like 'tortilla' (little cake/torta) or 'mesilla' (little table).

While there aren't direct English cognates for 'patilla', English speakers might find it helpful to think about how the metaphorical extension from 'little leg' to 'sideburn' makes sense - just as we might talk about the 'leg' of a table or the 'foot' of a mountain in English, Spanish has extended the body-part metaphor to describe these facial hair features.