The Spanish word 'pálido' (meaning 'pale') comes from the Latin adjective 'pallidus', which also meant 'pale' or 'wan'. The Latin 'pallidus' was formed by combining the verb 'pallere' ('to be pale') with the adjectival suffix '-idus'. This suffix '-idus' was commonly used in Latin to form adjectives from verbs, creating words that described states or qualities.

Some related Spanish words include 'palidez' (paleness), 'palidecer' (to become pale), and 'palidecido' (having become pale). All these words share the same root referring to paleness or the state of being pale.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'pallid' (which is almost identical to 'pálido' and means the same thing), 'pale', and 'pallor'. All these words can be traced back to the same Latin roots. The English word 'pallid' is particularly helpful to remember as it's almost identical to the Spanish 'pálido' both in form and meaning.