Spanish Cognates

Spanish words that look or sound similar to

English words and mean the same thing in both

languages.

1. Excelente2. Generoso3. Diferente4. Familia5. Elefante

Examples of CognatesEven if you have never learned any Spanish, you should be able to guess these words. What do you think they mean?

These words are

These words are easy to recognize

easy to recognize and translate,

and translate, right?right?

Beware “False” Cognates!

False Cognates are words that look similar in both languages but mean something different.

Examples:•pan = bread (not “pan”)•vaso = cup, glass (not “vase”)•éxito = success (not “exit”)•pie = foot (not “pie”)•embarazada = pregnant (not “embarassed”)

Let’s try some out........Spanish words that end in -a, -o or -e very often have an equivalent in English. Simply drop or change the last vowel (usually to an –e).

mapa

aire

caso

causa

costo

creativo

credito dieta

drama

favoritofigura

forma guitarra

líquido

lista

lista

medicinapersona

florista

English words that end in -or often have a Spanish cognate that is identical.

actor

English words that end in -ist often have a Spanish cognate that ends with –ista

artista

profesor

error

motor

humor

doctor

director

color autor (author)

recepcionista

turista

pianista

moralista

Words that end in -ary in English very often have a Spanish cognate that ends in -ario

vocabulario

aniversario

diccionario disciplinario

itinerario

literario

necesarioordinario

salario

English words that end in -ic usually have a Spanish cognate that simply ends with -ico.

sarcástico

romántico

patriótico

Atlántico

automático

democrático didáctico

escolástico

fanático gimnástico

linguístico

lunático

optimístico

fantástico

Like the previous category, English words that end in -ical have a Spanish cognate that ends in -ico.

cómicoclásico

técnico

sicológico (psychological)

práctico

político

periódico (newspaper,periodical)

metódico

histérico

físico

eléctrico

English words that end in -ent often have a cognate in Spanish that ends in -ente. These words are usually adjectives.

agente

Words that end in -ant in English have equivalents in Spanish that simply end with -ante. (also adjectives)

elegante

suficiente

excelentepatente

inteligenteindiferente

equivalentediferente

cliente

tolerantemutante

abundante

importante

English words that end in –ly often have a cognate in Spanish that ends in -mente. These words are usually adverbs.

Words that end in -ment in English have equivalents in Spanish that simply end in -mento. These words are nouns.

momento

elemento suplemento argumento

documentoelemento

frecuentemente generalmente

usualmenterápidamente

perfectamente

Words that end in -tion in English have equivalents in Spanish that simply end with -ción. These words are also feminine .

presentación

sociedad

curiosidadvariedad

abilidadcapacidadelectricidadnecesidad

eternidad

populación generación

educaciónrepetición

invitación

Words that in in -dad are quite common in Spanish. They usually correspond to an English word that ends in -ty. All of these words are feminine in gender.

adopción

ambición

Some English words that end in -ous have a Spanish cognate that ends in -oso.

English words that end in -ence or -ance often have a Spanish cognate that ends in -encia or -ancia

ambicioso

delicioso

misterioso religioso

generoso

diferenciaexcelencia

eleganciadistancia

violencia

English verbs that end with “VOWEL + CONSONANT + T” have a Spanish cognate that ends in –AR or -IR.

English verbs that end in –ate often have a Spanish cognate that ends in -AR

participar investigar

terminardemostrarcomunicar

exportar insertar

convertir

importar

insistir

deportar

interrumpir

English verbs that end with “VOWEL + CONSONANT + E” have a Spanish cognate that drops the –E and adds -AR.

English verbs that end in –fy often have a Spanish cognate that ends in -ificar

modificar verificar

unificarjustificarsimplificar

utilizar examinar

escapar

imaginar

invitar

ignorar

analizar

There are many more There are many more cognates to learn, but can cognates to learn, but can

you believe how many you believe how many words you can already words you can already recognize in Spanish?recognize in Spanish?