The Spanish word 'valiente' meaning 'brave' or 'valiant' comes from the Latin word 'valentis', which was the genitive form of 'valens' meaning 'strong' or 'powerful'. 'Valens' itself was derived from the Latin verb 'valere' meaning 'to be strong', combined with the present participle suffix '-entis'. Over time, the meaning evolved from physical strength to encompass moral strength and bravery in Spanish.

Several common Spanish words share this Latin root 'valere', including 'valer' (to be worth), 'valor' (courage, value), and 'válido' (valid). All these words maintain a connection to the original concept of strength, whether it's in terms of worth, courage, or validity.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'valiant', 'valor', 'value', and 'valid', which all come from the same Latin root 'valere'. The English word 'valiant' is particularly close in both meaning and form to Spanish 'valiente', as both developed from the same Latin source to describe bravery and courage.