The Spanish word 'xeneize' comes directly from the Ligurian word 'zeneize', meaning 'Genoese' (relating to Genoa, Italy). This term maintained its meaning while adapting to Spanish phonology, with the initial 'z' becoming 'x'. This word is particularly notable in Argentine Spanish, where it's famously used as the nickname for the Boca Juniors football club and its supporters, due to the club's founding in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, which had a large population of Genoese immigrants.

Given that 'xeneize' is a direct borrowing from Ligurian and is quite specific in its usage, there aren't any simpler or more common Spanish words that share its etymology.

While there aren't direct English cognates of 'xeneize', English speakers might recognize the related geographical term 'Genoese' itself, which refers to the same concept - people or things from Genoa. Both 'xeneize' and 'Genoese' ultimately refer to the same Italian city, though they evolved through different linguistic paths.