The Spanish word 'pujo' (meaning 'straining' or 'pressure') traces back to the Latin word 'pellere', which meant 'to push or drive'. From 'pellere' came two related Latin terms: 'pulsus' meaning 'push, pressure' and 'pulsare' meaning 'to push repeatedly'. The Spanish 'pujo' developed directly from Latin 'pulsus', maintaining a similar meaning related to pressure or straining, while the related verb 'pujar' (meaning 'to push or strain') evolved from Latin 'pulsare'.

A common related Spanish word is the verb 'pujar', which means 'to push' or 'to strain'. This verb is frequently used in contexts like childbirth ('pujar durante el parto' - to push during labor) or in auctions ('pujar por algo' - to bid on something, metaphorically 'pushing' the price up). Both 'pujo' and 'pujar' share the core concept of exerting force or pressure, with 'pujo' being the noun form describing the action or sensation of straining.

Several English words share the same Latin root 'pellere' (to push). The most notable ones include 'pulse' (from Latin 'pulsus'), which refers to the rhythmic pushing of blood through arteries, and 'propel' (from Latin 'propellere'), which means to drive or push forward. 'Compel', 'expel', and 'repel' are other English words that contain this same root, all involving some form of pushing or driving force.