The Spanish word 'semita' comes from combining two elements: the Hebrew name 'שֵׁם' (Shem), who was one of Noah's sons according to the Bible, and the Spanish suffix '-ita' which indicates origin or belonging. The term literally means 'Semite' or 'descendant of Shem'.

The Hebrew name שֵׁם (pronounced 'shem') was adapted into various languages, and when combined with the Spanish derivational suffix '-ita', it formed 'semita' to refer to people considered to be descendants of Shem, particularly those speaking Semitic languages or belonging to Semitic ethnic groups.

Some related Spanish words include 'semítico' (Semitic) and 'antisemita' (anti-Semitic), which share the same root referring to descendants of Shem. These terms are commonly used in historical, linguistic, and cultural contexts.

The English cognates include 'Semite', 'Semitic', and 'anti-Semitic', which all derive from the same Hebrew name 'Shem'. The English terms maintain very similar meanings to their Spanish counterparts, referring to peoples, languages, and cultures historically associated with the descendants of Shem, particularly in reference to Jewish and Arab peoples and their related language families.