The Spanish word 'zacate', meaning 'grass' or 'fodder', comes directly from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word 'zacatl', which had the same meaning of 'grass, hay, fodder'. This is one of many words that Spanish borrowed from the indigenous languages of Mexico during the colonial period. The transition from Nahuatl 'zacatl' to Spanish 'zacate' involved a simple adaptation to Spanish phonology, where the final '-tl' sound (common in Nahuatl but not in Spanish) was changed to '-te'.

Since 'zacate' comes from Nahuatl rather than Latin or Greek (the source of most Spanish vocabulary), there aren't many common Spanish words that share its etymology. It stands somewhat isolated in Spanish vocabulary as a borrowing from an indigenous American language.

There aren't any etymologically related English words since 'zacate' comes from Nahuatl, and English generally didn't borrow words directly from indigenous Mexican languages. However, English speakers might encounter this word in the context of Mexican agriculture or in Southwestern United States regional vocabulary, where it's sometimes used to refer to grass or fodder due to Spanish influence in the region.