'azotea' originates from Spanish, ultimately from Arabic 'al-satḥ' (السطح), where 'sath' meant 'surface' or 'flat roof'.

'azotea' came into Spanish from Arabic during the medieval period (from Arabic al-satḥ), entered Spanish usage as 'azotea', and was later borrowed into English from Spanish in modern times.

Initially it referred broadly to a 'surface' or 'flat top'; over time it came to specifically denote a roof or roof terrace and has retained that core meaning in modern usage.