indigente (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

The word "indigente" is an adjective in Spanish, and it can also function as a noun.

Phonetic Transcription

/ind i ˈxen te/

Translation Options

• Indigent
• Needy
• Destitute

Meaning and Usage

"Indigente" refers to a person who is in a state of extreme poverty and lacking the basic necessities of life. It is often used in legal and social contexts to describe individuals who do not have sufficient resources to provide for themselves. The term is relatively common and can be found in both written and spoken language, although it may appear more frequently in formal contexts, such as social services, law, and news articles.

Example Sentences

1. La ONG ofrece ayuda a los indigentes de la ciudad.

2. The NGO provides assistance to the indigent people in the city.

3. Las autoridades están implementando políticas para ayudar a los indigentes.

4. The authorities are implementing policies to help the indigent.

5. En la estación de tren, vimos a varios indigentes pidiendo limosna.

6. At the train station, we saw several indigent people begging for alms.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "indigente" does not specifically appear in many idiomatic expressions, the concept of poverty or neediness does connect to various phrases in Spanish. Below are expressions that capture similar themes:

1. Vivir al día
2. Signifies living from hand to mouth, indicating a precarious financial situation.
3. Example: Muchas familias tienen que vivir al día para sobrevivir.

4. Many families have to live from hand to mouth to survive.

5. Estar en la calle

6. Means to be on the street, or to be homeless.
7. Example: Después de perder su trabajo, estuvo en la calle durante meses.

8. After losing his job, he was on the street for months.

9. No tener ni un duro

10. Literally translates to "not having a penny," meaning to be broke.
11. Example: Se quedó sin trabajo y ahora no tiene ni un duro.

12. He lost his job and now doesn’t have a penny to his name.

13. Estar en la cuerda floja

14. This expression means to be in a precarious or risky situation, often relating to financial instability.
15. Example: Con tantas deudas, está en la cuerda floja.
16. With so many debts, he is on shaky ground.

Etymology

The word "indigente" derives from the Latin "indigens," which means "needy" or "in want." This Latin term combines "in-" (not) and "agens," the present participle of "agere," meaning to act or do.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms

• Necesitado (needy)
• Pobre (poor)
• Desamparado (homeless, helpless)

Antonyms

• Acomodado (comfortable, well-off)
• Rico (rich)
• Prosperoso (prosperous)

In summary, "indigente" is a term used primarily in legal and social contexts to denote individuals in dire poverty and is an important concept in discussions surrounding social justice and welfare.