LOS COGNADOSCognates are words from two different languages that are the same or similar. These words sound the same and have the same meaning.
el teléfono – telephoneel elefante – elephant
la radio – radiola televisión – television
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 1
Words that end in –ous change to –oso
curious - curioso delicious - delicioso
mysterious - misterioso precious - precioso religious - religioso
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 2
Words that end in –al are usually the same in English
hospital - hospital animal - animal casual - casual digital - digital
final - final ideal - ideal
tropical - tropical
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 3
Words that end in –ct change to –cto
act - acto exact - exacto
correct - correcto insect - insecto
perfect - perfecto product - producto conflict - conflicto
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 4
Words that end in –ance change to –ancia
ambulance - ambulancia France - Francia
distance - distancia tolerance - tolerancia elegance - elegancia
importance - importancia
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 5
Words that end in –ic change to –ico
basic - básico fantastic - fantástico
organic - orgánico panic - pánico
romantic - romántico
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 6
Words that end in –ar are usually the same in English
lunar - lunar muscular - muscular
regular - regular solar - solar
similar - similar popular - popular
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 7
Words that end in –ary change to –ario
canary - canario diary - diario
glossary - glossario primary - primario
vocabulary - vocabulario temporary - temporario
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 8
Words that end in –ant change to –ante
distant - distante elegant - elegante
important - importante vacant - vacante
tolerant - tolerante instant - instante
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 9
Words that end in –ble are usually the same in English
terrible - terrible destructible - destructible
horrible - horrible flexible - flexible
impossible - imposible visible - visible
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 10
Words that end in –ence change to –encia
competence - competencia difference - diferencia excellence - excelencia frequence - frecuencia
intelligence - inteligencia violence - violencia
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 11
Words that end in –id change to –ido Note: many words following this rule have an accent on the
first syllable.
rapid - rápido solid - sólido
stupid - estúpido liquid - líquido
vivid - vívido
LOS COGNADOSSpanish Cognate Rule 12
Words that end in –ment change to –mento
argument - argumento cement - cemento
department - departmento document - documento
element - dlemento moment - momento
LOS COGNADOS FALSOS**Be careful though, some words that look like they are
surely the same are not. These are called “false cognates”.
sopa – soupéxito – success
nombre – name ropa – clothing mano – hand
embarazada – pregnant
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