Spanish Cognates and False Cognates

Spanish Grammar Common Errors Cognates and False Cognates

Overview	The good news is that Spanish cognates will help you learn the language more quickly. The bad news is that there are also false cognates! But, what exactly are Spanish cognates and false cognates? Spanish cognates are Spanish words which are are similar to English words. Spanish cognates are a wonderful tool for learning Spanish vocabulary. A few examples are shown below: los apartamentos - apartments el hotel - hotel el aeropuerto - airport el mapa - map el operador - operator el tomate - tomato el melón - melon Unfortunately, some Spanish words look like English words but they have a very different meaning. These words are called Spanish false cognates. False cognates are not the same thing as false friends, which are sometimes related but have very different meanings. A few examples are shown below: actual - current (NOT actual) asistir - to attend (NOT to assist) la carpeta - file folder (NOT carpet) embarazada - pregnant (NOT embarrassed) la fábrica - factory (NOT fabric) la librería - bookstore (NOT library) Although false cognates lack a common root, there might still be an indirect connection between them. Spanish cognates are a great tool for learning vocabulary. The examples below show groups of common cognates. There is a group of English words that end in al that do NOT change in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Hospital ---> Hospital Medical ---> Medical Animal ---> Animal Casual ---> Casual Digital ---> Digital Final ---> Final Ideal ---> Ideal Tropical ---> Tropical There is a group of English words that end in ble that do NOT change in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Audible ---> Audible Cabble ---> Cabble Terrible ---> Terrible Destructible ---> Destructible Horrible ---> Horrible Flexible ---> Flexible Impossible ---> Imposible Visible ---> Visible There is a group of English words that end in ar that do NOT change in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Familiar ---> Familiar Lunar ---> Lunar Muscular ---> Muscular Regular ---> Regular Solar ---> Solar Vulgar ---> Vulgar Similar ---> Similar Popular ---> Popular There is a group of English words that end in ment that change to mento in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Argument ---> Argumento Cement ---> Cemento Department ---> Departmento Document ---> Documento Element ---> Elemento Ligament ---> Ligamento Moment ---> Momento Pigment ---> Pigmento There is a group of English words that end in id that change to ido in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Acid ---> Ácido Fluid ---> Fluido Rapid ---> Rápido Solid ---> Sólido Valid ---> Válido Stupid ---> Estúpido Liquid ---> Líquido Vivid ---> Vívido There is a group of English words that end in ence that change to encia in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Coincidence ---> Coincidencia Competence ---> Competencia Difference ---> Diferencia Excellence ---> Excelencia Frequence ---> Frecuencia Intelligence ---> Inteligencia Presence ---> Presencia Violence ---> Violencia There is a group of English words that end in ant that change to ante in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Abundant ---> Abundante Distant ---> Distante Elegant ---> Elegante Important ---> Importante Mutant ---> Mutante Vacant ---> Vacante Tolerant ---> Tolerante Instant ---> Instante There is a group of English words that end in ary that change to ario in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Canary ---> Canario Diary ---> Diario Glossary ---> Glossario Estuary ---> Estuario Primary ---> Primario Salary ---> Salario Vocabulary ---> Vocabulario Temporary ---> Temporario There is a group of English words that end in ic that change to ico in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Alcoholic ---> Alcohólico Basic ---> Básico Fantastic ---> Fantástico Generic ---> Genérico Medic ---> Médico Organic ---> Orgánico Panic ---> Pánico Romantic ---> Romántico There is a group of English words that end in ance that change to ancia in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Ambulance ---> Ambulancia France ---> Francia Distance ---> Distancia Substance ---> Substancia Tolerance ---> Tolerancia Elegance ---> Elegancia Importance ---> Importancia Abundance ---> Abundancia There is a group of English words that end in ct that change to cto in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Act ---> Acto Exact ---> Exacto Correct ---> Correcto Insect ---> Insecto Dialect ---> Dialecto Perfect ---> Perfecto Product ---> Producto Conflict ---> Conflicto There is a group of English words that end in ous that change to oso in Spanish Examples of Spanish Cognates: Curious ---> Curioso Delicious ---> Delicioso Glorious ---> Glorioso Mysterious ---> Misterioso Numerous ---> Numeroso Precious ---> Precioso Religious ---> Religioso Tedious ---> Tedioso Learn Cognates Learn False Cognates Use Cognates Use False Cognates Related Topics Cognates ending in -ción Words ending in -sion More False Cognates
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Popular Phrase: big numbers in spanish | Spanish Future Tense | Conjugated Verb: similar - similar [ click for full conjugation ]