Los Cognados y Cognados Falsos

Cognates and False Cognates

NounsMany Spanish nouns can easily be converted into English nouns.English nouns and Spanish nouns ending in ‘-or’ are very often identical.

#1. -or = -or English Spanishactor actorcolor colordoctor doctordirector director

Nouns

English nouns and Spanish nouns ending in ‘-al’ are often identical.

#2. -al = -al English Spanishanimal animalgeneral generalhospital hospitalmanual manualmoral moral

Nouns

Many English nouns ending with ‘-ist’, can be converted into Spanish nouns by changing to ‘-ista’.

#3. -ist → -ista English Spanishartistlist

socialist tourist

artistalistasocialistaturista

Nouns

#4. -ism → -ismo

English Spanishidealism

realism mechanism optimism

organism

idealismorealismomechanismooptimismoorganismo

Nouns

#5. -nce → -ncia English Spanishabundance abundanciaarroganceexperience patience

intelligence

arroganciaexperienciapacienciainteligencia

Nouns

#6. -ty → -dad

English Spanishactivity actividadcuriosity

electricity identity

university

curiosidadelectricidadidentidaduniversidad

Nouns

#7. -tion → -ción

English Spanishassociation asociacióncombination combinacióncondition condiciónexemption exempcióninstruction instrución

NounsEnglish nouns ending with ‘-y’ often correspond to Spanishnouns ending with ‘-ía’, ‘ia’, or ‘io’.

#8. -y → '-ía', '-ia', or '-io' English Spanishagency agenciaagony agoníabattery bateríafamily familiahistory historiasalary salariotestimony testimoniodictionary diccionario

AdjectivesLike nouns, many English adjectives can be converted into Spanish simply by changing the word ending. Here are some useful rules.

#1. -ive → ivoEnglish Spanishactive activodecisive decisivofestive festivoeffective efectivoindicative indicativo

Adjectives

#2. -al = -alEnglish Spanishbrutal brutalusual usuallocal localcriminal criminalnatural natural

Adjectives

#4. -ic → -ico English Spanishmagnetic magnético fantastic fantásticoelectric eléctricoartistic artísticoautomatic automático

Adjectives

#5. -ble = -ble English Spanishadmirable admirableimpossible imposibleterrible terriblefavorable favorablenotable notable

Adjectives

#6. -nt → -nte English Spanishignorant ignoranteconvenient convenienteprudent prudenteimportant importantetriumphant triunfante

Adjectives

#7. -id → -ido English Spanishstupid estúpidolucid lúcidosplendid espléndidocandid cándidosolid sólido

Adjectives

#8. -ile → -il English Spanishagile ágilfragile frágilmobile móvil juvenile juvenilautomobile automóvil

Adjectives

#9. -ary → -ario English Spanisharbitrary arbitrarioordinary ordinarioimaginary imaginario

AdverbsIn English, "-ly" combines with many adjectives to form adverbs.In Spanish, "-mente" combines with (feminine) adjectives to form Spanish adverbs.

-ly → -mente English Spanishabsolutely absolutamente normally normalmentenaturally naturalmentefinally finalmentecorrectly correctamenteexactly exactamenteevidently evidentementedifficultly dificilmente

False CognatesMany words appears to be similar in English and Spanish, but do not have the same meaning. These are called “false cognates”. Below are a few examples of false cognates.

1.) embarazada – pregnant Does not mean “embarrassed”. embarrassed = avergonzado

 2.) bizarro – brave; valiant Does not mean “strange” or “bizarre”

strange; bizarre = extraño; raro

3.) asistir – to attend Does not mean “to assist”to assist = ayudar (to help)

4.) éxito – success Does not mean “exit” exit = salida

 5.) fábrica – factory Does not mean “fabric”

fabric = tejido