The Spanish word 'vaso' comes directly from the Latin word 'vasum', which meant 'vessel' or 'container'. Over time, while maintaining its general meaning of a container, 'vaso' in Spanish has come to specifically refer to a drinking glass or vessel, though it can still be used in some contexts to refer to other types of containers.

Some related Spanish words include 'vasija' (a vessel or container, especially for liquids), and 'vajilla' (dinnerware or tableware). These words all share the same Latin root 'vasum' and maintain the core meaning of containers or vessels used for food and drink.

English has numerous words related to vaso. A vase is a container for holding flowers, sharing both the form and the meaning of a vessel. There are also several scientific terms, such as vascular (relating to vessels that carry fluids in animals or plants) and vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels). All of these go back to the Latin root vas-, referring to vessels or containers.