Pobreza vs. indigencia

[laepelba]

I have a question about the subtle differences between the use of the word "pobreza" and the word "indigencia". They seem to both mean "poverty", but I assume (??) that they are used slightly differently.

It bothers me a tad bit that the word "indigencia" is so similar to "indígena". Do they have related root words?

Muchas gracias!!

[Rusty]

They aren't related words (different Latin roots).

Poverty has a handful of meanings in both languages, while indigence only has one in both languages. Indigence is a synonym of one of the meanings of poverty.

[Tomisimo]

Good question. I think the two words are fairly synonymous, but as Rusty says, poverty has several meanings.

indigencia - poverty, destitution, indigence
pobreza - poverty, poorness, penury

pobreza de espíritu - poorness of spirit
pobreza no es vileza - poverty is not a crime
línea de indigencia / mínimo vital - poverty line

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

A reserva de lo que otros digan:

"Indigencia" suggests people who have no place to live. Not all poor people live in the street, so "pobreza" is more general for people who have a low income level (measured and/or justified by economists).

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

"Indigencia" suggests people who have no place to live. Not all poor people live in the street, so "pobreza" is more general for people who have a low income level (measured and/or justified by economists).

Ok, so "indigencia" could in some cases be translated as "homelessness" (I think).

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I have a question about the subtle differences between the use of the word "pobreza" and the word "indigencia". They seem to both mean "poverty", but I assume (??) that they are used slightly differently.

It bothers me a tad bit that the word "indigencia" is so similar to "indígena". Do they have related root words?

Muchas gracias!!

Just the word Indigencia mean other thing here in Mexico.
Indigencia mean a person who doesn't has studies or any degree, person who doesn't work or earn money.

At least I have understood that of you are asking.

Now Poor well I believe it's obvious it sightly re-marked more here in my country, because there're highly a number of person poor in the country.
That word could mean Pobresa, sin suerte, sin estudios, or also it could be interpreted as a person poor of culture.

A person without a culture by the study.
But I go more with the first mean of the word poor.
Person without money and social stability.

I hope my point can help you.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@David: Yes. I'd associate it much more with homelessness than with poverty, which is a much broader notion.

[JPablo]

I agree with the above answers. I'd think too, "indigencia" tends to be a slightly higher register, as in slightly more 'highbrow' level, even if broadly known.

"Pobre" and "pobreza" are more general and more generally used.
There are many Spanish synonyms for "pobreza", among them and more or less used,

Escasez, estrechez, falta de medios, indigencia, miseria, necesidad, penuria, privación, ración de hambre, tiña.

There are a number of synonyms for the opposite idea,

Abundancia, bienestar, conveniencia, desahogo, holgura, opulencia, posición, prosperidad, riqueza.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Pablo's synonyms, except "tiña", which in Mexico is only understood as a skin disease.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

I agree with Pablo's synonyms, except "tiña", which in Mexico is only understood as a skin disease.

Yes, that is the most common usage in Spain as well, but it is not uncommon to understand "tiña" as noted in DRAE.
tiña 2. f. coloq. Miseria, escasez, mezquindad.

[laepelba]

Thanks, everyone, for these fantastic answers. I have to do one of my oral exams this week on "poverty", and am working through some vocabulary to make sure that I can actually talk about the subject of poverty.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Just the word Indigencia mean other thing here in Mexico.
Indigencia mean a person who doesn't has studies or any degree, person who doesn't work or earn money.

Don't be so sure. Everytime there are more and more "indigentes" who have studied:

http://www.lavanguardia.es/free/edic...578389912.html

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Don't be so sure. Everytime there are more and more "indigentes" who have studied:

http://www.lavanguardia.es/free/edic...578389912.html

Interesting! It's exactly what I've been reading about, too. Here's another article: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/20/wo...pagewanted=all

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Interesting! It's exactly what I've been reading about, too. Here's another article: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/20/wo...pagewanted=all

¿Y qué podríamos hacer para que todo el mundo pudiera vivir mínimamente bien?

[JPablo]

Siempre se puede hacer algo al respecto. A veces de forma más eficaz. A veces menos. Pero siempre se puede hacer algo al respecto... aparte de hablar de ello... que como mínimo es algo. Pero sobre todo, adoptar una actitud positiva de influencia en el entorno inmediato, para empezar. Estamos con el viejo 'granito de arena', pero un 'granito de arena' puede crear una playa... No quiero ponerme utópico, pues utopías las hay y ha habido muchas, pero si uno puede primero cuidar de sí mismo, y mejorar como individuo (no en un sentido egoísta, sino en un sentido práctico, cuanto más eficaz, más capacidad de ayudar a otros se desarrolla...) Uno puede ayudar, aunque sólo sea dando ánimos, aunque sólo sea concienciándose... En fin, los problemas del mundo empiezan por limpiar el patio trasero de nuestra casa, pero incluso eso en sí, empezaría a ayudar, por poco que fuera... En fin, no me voy a poner a dar un sermón... pero por lo menos, si lo que escribo no son más que palabras, por lo menos espero que sirvan de práctica del español... Y como decía el otro día, menos da una piedra...

[irmamar]

Yo ayudo lo que puedo, que no es mucho. Pero veo muchas cosas ya aquí, en mi país, como para poder ayudar mucho fuera (como tú dices: el patio trasero). En fin, qué se le va a hacer, no podemos enfrentarnos solos al gigante, tenemos que estar todos en el grupo.

[JPablo]

Tú lo has dicho... or you said it... que viene a ser lo mismo... or amount to the same thing...

[Elaina]

Estoy de acuerdo con ustedes. Es muy facil juzgar a otros sin saber el porqué de su situación. Al menos de que seamos sumamente ricos creo que es importante recordar que nosotros tambien podriamos terminar en esa misma situación

Pero nosotros no podemos dejar de vivir por causa de los problemas de otros pero si podemos ser mas compasivos y mas (understanding).

Practice random acts of kindness without looking towards whom

[JPablo]

Pues eso, "haz el bien y no mires a quien" que dice la vieja máxima.