ESPAOLENGLISH COGNADOSCOGNATES By Martha Abeille What are Cognates

ESPAÑOL-ENGLISH COGNADOS-COGNATES By Martha Abeille

? What are Cognates? Cognates are words that belong to different languages but are identical or very similar to each other in spelling and meaning.

False Cognates and Part-Time Cognates Some words seem to be cognates of English words but they are not. They are False Cognates. e. g. sopa in Spanish does not mean “soap” sopa means soup in English Other words sometimes suggest an English equivalent, but can also have a different meaning. They are Part-Time Cognates. e, . g. equipo in Spanish can mean “equipment” in English but also can be translated as “team” (depending on context).

False Cognates and Part-Time Cognates Following you’ll find some examples of Cognates, Part-time Cognates and False Cognates.

Spanish-English-Spanish actual: actual current, present actual: actual verdadero, real asistir: asistir to attend, to help assist: assist ayudar, asistir atender: atender to pay attention, take attend: attend asistir a, cuidar, care of, attend to atender carpeta: carpeta portfolio; file folder carpet: carpet alfombra carta: carta letter (re mail), charter cart: cart carro, carreta distinto: distinto different, clear, several distinct: distinct claro, visible, diferente, distinto éxito: éxito success exit: exit salida embarazada: embarazada pregnant embarrassed: embarrassed turbado, desconcertado

Spanish-English-Spanish fabric: fabric tela, textura, fábrica: fábrica factory, mill, structure construcción lecture: lecture conferencia, lectura: lectura reading lección, plática media: media stocking media: media (pl. of medium) medios de comunicación (radio, tv etc. ) parientes: parientes relatives parents: parents padres quitar: quitar to take away, deprive of, subtract quitar: quitar abandonar, cesar, parar, dejar de hacer algo ropa: ropa clothes, clothing rope: rope soga, cuerda recordar: recordar to remember, recall, remind, awaken record: record registrar, apuntar, grabar en disco sauce: sauce willow sauce: sauce salsa, condimento

Spanish-English-Spanish simpático: simpático agreeable, pleasant, cogenial sympathetic: compasivo, sympathetic simpatizante taller: taller workshop, studio taller: taller más alto tutor: tutor guardian, tutor: tutor maestro particular, tutor tuna: tuna prickly pear tuna: tuna atún unión: unión joining, joint union: union unión, sindicato