The Spanish word 'revés' comes from the Latin word 'reversus', meaning 'turned back'. 'Reversus' itself was formed from two Latin elements: the prefix 're-' meaning 'back' or 'again', and the verb 'vertere' meaning 'to turn'. Over time, this word evolved in Spanish to mean 'reverse' or 'setback', maintaining the core idea of something being turned or going backwards.

Several common Spanish words share this Latin root, including 'reverso' (reverse side), 'revertir' (to revert), and 'invertir' (to invert). All these words maintain the basic concept of turning or changing direction that comes from Latin 'vertere'.

English speakers can easily connect 'revés' to several familiar English words that come from the same Latin source, such as 'reverse', 'revert', and 'invert'. The connection is clear both in form and meaning - all these words involve the concept of turning back or changing direction. Even the word 'verse' (as in poetry) is related, as it originally referred to the turning of the plow at the end of a row, then to a line of writing.