The Spanish word 'venado' (meaning 'deer') comes from the Latin word 'venatus', which meant 'hunting' or 'game' (as in animals hunted for food or sport). 'Venatus' itself derives from the Latin verb 'venari', meaning 'to hunt'. The evolution of meaning from 'hunting/game' to specifically meaning 'deer' in Spanish makes sense since deer were one of the most commonly hunted animals throughout history.

While 'venado' itself is a common Spanish word, there are a few related Spanish words that share this hunting-related etymology. For example, 'venadero' refers to a place where deer are found or a deer hunting ground.

The English word 'venison' is a cousin of 'venado', as it also comes from the same Latin root 'venari' (to hunt). Originally, 'venison' referred to the meat of any game animal, but over time it came to specifically mean deer meat in English, just as 'venado' came to mean the deer itself in Spanish. Another related English word is 'venatic', meaning 'of or relating to hunting', though this word is rather rare.