Cognates

Cognates

Cognates

Cognates are words that are similar in FORM & MEANING in both languages: English and Spanish.

• Perfect cognates are words that are identical in both English and Spanish.

• Near perfect cognates: These are words that mean the same thing in both English and Spanish but are not quite spelt the same but almost the same.

Examples of Perfect Cognates:

• Color

• Animal

• Director

• Editor

• Instructor

• Central

• Cereal

• Criminal

• Experimental

• General

• Informal

• Manual

• Musical

• Natural

• Adorable

• Deplorable

• Irresistible

• Terrible

• Vulnerable

• Miserable

• Invisible

Examples of Near Perfect Cognates:

• Abstraction - Abstracción

• Action - Acción

• Adaptation - Adaptación

• Application - Aplicación

• Association - Asociación

• Collaboration - Colaboración

• Combination - Combinación

• Concentration - Concentración

• Conservation - Conservación

• Construction - Construcción

• Anniversary - Aniversario

• Diary - Diario

• Vocabulary - Vocabulario

• Classic - Clásico

False Cognates

False cognates are when two words sound almost identical and are spelled almost the same in two different languages but have completely different meanings.

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Advertencia

• Correct English Translation: Warning

• English Misinterpretation: Advertisement

• Spanish Translation: Anuncio

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Carpeta

• Correct English Translation: Folder

• English Misinterpretation: Carpet

• Spanish Translation: Alfombra

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Asistencia

• Correct English Translation: Attendance

• English Misinterpretation: Assistance

• Spanish Translation: Apoyo

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Biblioteca

• Correct English Translation: Library

• English Misinterpretation: Bookshop

• Spanish Translation: Librería

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Colegio

• Correct English Translation: High School

• English Misinterpretation: College

• Spanish Translation: Universidad

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Embarazada

• Correct English Translation: Pregnant

• English Misinterpretation: Embarrassed

• Spanish Translation: Avergonzada

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Terrorífico

• Correct English Translation: Terrifying

• English Misinterpretation: Terrific

• Spanish Translation: Fenomenal, genial

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Éxito

• Correct English Translation: Success

• English Misinterpretation: Exit

• Spanish Translation: Salida

Examples:

• Spanish Word: Noticia

• Correct English Translation: News

• English Misinterpretation: Notice

• Spanish Translation: Aviso