The Spanish word 'natividad' (meaning 'nativity') comes from the Latin word 'nativitas', which meant 'birth' or 'nativity'. The Latin word 'nativitas' was formed by combining three elements: the Latin word 'natus' meaning 'born', the suffix '-ivus' meaning 'relating to', and the suffix '-itas' meaning 'quality of'. These elements came together to create a word that essentially means 'the quality or state of being born' or 'birth'.

The word maintained its meaning as it evolved from Latin to Spanish, with the final '-itas' becoming '-idad', following a common pattern of Spanish word formation from Latin words ending in '-itas'.

Several common Spanish words share the same Latin root 'natus' (born): 'nativo' (native), 'natal' (relating to birth), 'nacer' (to be born), and 'nacimiento' (birth). All these words relate to the concept of birth or origin, making it easier to remember their connection to 'natividad'.

English speakers can easily relate 'natividad' to several familiar English words that come from the same Latin root: 'native', 'nativity', 'natal', and 'innate'. The English word 'nativity' is particularly close in both meaning and form to the Spanish 'natividad', as they both come directly from Latin 'nativitas'. The word is perhaps most familiar to English speakers in the phrase 'Nativity scene', referring to artistic depictions of Christ's birth.