The Spanish verb 'rodar' (to roll) comes from the Latin verb 'rotare' meaning 'to rotate or turn'. This Latin verb was itself derived from the Latin noun 'rota' meaning 'wheel'. The evolution from Latin to Spanish shows a common pattern where the '-t-' sound between vowels became softened to '-d-', and the Latin infinitive ending '-are' naturally evolved to Spanish '-ar'.

Several common Spanish words share this same Latin root, including 'rueda' (wheel), 'rotación' (rotation), and 'rotonda' (roundabout). All these words maintain the core concept of circular motion or round objects from the original Latin 'rota'.

English speakers can connect 'rodar' to many familiar English words that come from the same Latin root, such as 'rotate', 'rotary', 'rotation', and even 'round'. The word 'rotund' (meaning round or circular) also comes from this same Latin origin. Notice how all these English words maintain some connection to the concept of turning, circular motion, or roundness.