The word 'zarzuela' is a direct borrowing from Spanish, where it originally served as the name of a royal residence, the Palacio de la Zarzuela. The palace's name itself is derived from 'zarza', the Spanish word for 'bramble' or 'blackberry bush', referring to the thickets that surrounded the location. In the 17th century, this palace became the venue for private theatrical performances for the court, which evolved into a distinctive genre of light opera. By metonymy, the name of the place was transferred to the art form performed there, and later, by a separate culinary tradition, to a mixed seafood dish, both evoking the idea of a rich, varied combination.

This word is a toponym, a proper noun adopted as a common noun. It originates from the name of a specific location, the Palacio de la Zarzuela, a royal hunting lodge near Madrid.