The Spanish word 'psicología' (psychology) comes from two Ancient Greek elements. The first part comes from Greek 'ψυχή' (psyche) meaning 'soul' or 'breath of life', which developed into the Spanish prefix 'psico-' relating to the mind. The second part comes from Greek 'λογία' (logia) meaning 'study of', which became the Spanish suffix '-logía'. When combined, these elements form 'psicología', literally meaning 'the study of the mind'.

Several common Spanish words share the 'psico-' prefix, including 'psicólogo' (psychologist), 'psicoanálisis' (psychoanalysis), and 'psicoterapia' (psychotherapy). All these words relate to the study or treatment of the mind and mental processes.

English speakers will recognize many cognates with 'psicología' since English borrowed from the same Greek roots. Related English words include 'psychology', 'psyche', 'psychic', and 'psychiatry'. The spelling difference is minor - English typically uses 'psych-' where Spanish uses 'psic-', but they share the same Greek ancestor meaning 'mind' or 'soul'.