2. 1. Excelente
2. Generoso
3. Diferente
4. Familia
5. Elefante
Examples of Cognates
Even 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?
3. 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”)
4. 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
favorito
figura
forma guitarra
líquido
lista
lista
medicinapersona
5. 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
6. Words that end in -ary in English very
often have a Spanish cognate that ends in
-ario
vocabulario
aniversario
diccionario disciplinario
itinerario
literario
necesario
ordinario
salario
7. 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
8. Like the previous category, English words that
end in -ical have a Spanish cognate that ends in
-ico.
cómico
clásico
técnico
sicológico (psychological)
práctico
político
periódico (newspaper,periodical)
metódico histérico
físico
eléctrico
9. 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
excelente
patente
inteligente
indiferente
equivalentediferente
cliente
tolerante
mutante
abundante
importante
10. 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
usualmente
rápidamente
perfectamente
11. Words that end in -tion in English have equivalents in
Spanish that simply end with -ción. These words are also
feminine .
presentación
sociedad
curiosidadvariedad
abilidadcapacidad
electricidadnecesidad
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
12. 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
diferencia
excelencia
eleganciadistancia
violencia
13. 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
terminardemostrar
comunicar
exportar insertar
convertir
importar
insistir
deportar
interrumpir
14. 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
unificarjustificar
simplificar
utilizar examinar
escapar
imaginar
invitar
ignorar
analizar
15. There are many moreThere are many more
cognates to learn, but cancognates to learn, but can
you believe how manyyou believe how many
words you can alreadywords you can already
recognize in Spanish?recognize in Spanish?