The Spanish word 'romanza' traces back to the Latin word 'Roma' (Rome). From 'Roma' came the Latin adverbial form 'romanice' meaning 'in Roman style'. This term was later adopted into Italian as 'romanza', referring to a type of musical composition or song, typically of a romantic or sentimental nature. The Spanish 'romanza' was then borrowed directly from Italian, maintaining the same musical meaning.

Several common Spanish words share this Roman root, including 'romano' (Roman), 'romance' (the Spanish language, or a romance/love story), and 'romántico' (romantic). All these words ultimately connect to Rome ('Roma' in Spanish) and its cultural influence. While 'romanza' specifically refers to a musical piece, these related words all carry the connection to Roman or Romance culture.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'romance', 'romantic', and 'Roman'. While the Spanish 'romanza' specifically refers to a musical composition, these English cognates all share the same Latin root referring to Rome. The English word 'romance' originally referred to narratives written in Romance languages (as opposed to Latin), before it took on its current meaning related to love and courtship. The musical term 'romance' in English, meaning a short instrumental piece of a romantic nature, is also directly related to 'romanza'.