The Spanish verb 'resfriar' (meaning 'to catch a cold') comes from combining the prefix 're-' (meaning 'again, back') with the older Spanish verb 'esfriar' (meaning 'to make cold'). The verb 'esfriar' itself derives from the Latin word 'frigidus' meaning 'cold'. The evolution shows an interesting semantic development from the general concept of 'making something cold' to the more specific meaning of 'catching a cold' in modern Spanish.

Some related Spanish words that might be familiar to Spanish learners include 'frío' (cold), 'frialdad' (coldness), and 'friolento' (sensitive to cold). All these words share the same Latin root 'frigidus' and maintain connections to the concept of coldness or low temperature.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'frigid' (very cold), 'refrigerate' (to make or keep cold), and 'refrigerator', all of which come from the same Latin root 'frigidus'. The connection between cold temperatures and these words remains clear in both languages, though Spanish 'resfriar' took on the specific meaning of catching a cold.