The Spanish word 'indicativo' (meaning 'indicative') comes from the Latin word 'indicativus', which meant 'indicating' or 'pointing out'. This Latin word was formed by combining several parts: the prefix 'in-' meaning 'towards' or 'into', the verb 'dicare' meaning 'to point out', and the suffix '-tivus' meaning 'relating to'. These elements came together to form 'indicare' ('to point out, indicate') and then 'indicativus', which eventually evolved into the Spanish 'indicativo'.

This etymology helps explain why the indicative mood in Spanish grammar is called 'modo indicativo' - it's the mood used to point out or indicate actual, factual actions or states of being.

Several common Spanish words share this etymology, including 'indicar' (to indicate), 'indicación' (indication), and 'índice' (index). All these words carry the core meaning of pointing out or showing something. For example, 'índice' literally refers to something that points to information, like an index in a book or a pointer finger.

English speakers can easily connect 'indicativo' to several familiar English words that share the same Latin roots, such as 'indicate', 'indication', 'indicative', and 'index'. All these words preserve the original Latin meaning of pointing out or showing something. The English word 'indicative' is particularly close in both form and meaning to the Spanish 'indicativo', as they both come directly from Latin 'indicativus'.