The Spanish word 'indigente' (meaning 'indigent' or 'needy') comes from the Latin word 'indigens', which meant 'needing' or 'in want'. The Latin word was formed by combining three elements: 'indu-' meaning 'within', the verb 'egere' meaning 'to need', and the present participle suffix '-nte'. These elements came together to create a word that literally described someone who had a need or want within them.

While 'indigente' itself is a relatively common Spanish word, it doesn't have many simpler related words in modern Spanish that share the same root. However, you might encounter 'indigencia', which means 'indigence' or 'poverty', and follows the same etymological path.

English speakers might recognize this word's connection to 'indigent', which has the exact same meaning and comes from the same Latin root. The word 'indigenous' might also look similar, but interestingly, it comes from a different Latin root ('indigenus' - meaning 'native' or 'born within'). Another related English word is 'indigence', meaning 'poverty' or 'need', which directly corresponds to the Spanish 'indigencia'.