Where does the word indigenous come from?

The word "indigenous" comes from the Latin word "indigena", which means "native" or "belonging to a place by birth."

Here's a breakdown of its etymology:

* "in-" means "in" or "within"

* "dignus" means "worthy" or "fitting"

* "-gena" is a suffix meaning "born" or "produced"

So, "indigena" literally means "born within" or "worthy of being born in a place," referring to someone or something originating from a particular place.

The word "indigenous" entered English in the 16th century and has been used to describe people, plants, animals, and cultures that are native to a specific region or country.