Los Cognados y Cognados Falsos
Cognates and False Cognates
NounsMany Spanish nouns can easily be converted into English nouns.English nouns and Spanish nouns ending in ‘-or’ are very often identical.
#1. -or = -or English Spanishactor actorcolor colordoctor doctordirector director
Nouns
English nouns and Spanish nouns ending in ‘-al’ are often identical.
#2. -al = -al English Spanishanimal animalgeneral generalhospital hospitalmanual manualmoral moral
Nouns
Many English nouns ending with ‘-ist’, can be converted into Spanish nouns by changing to ‘-ista’.
#3. -ist → -ista English Spanishartistlist
socialist tourist
artistalistasocialistaturista
Nouns
#4. -ism → -ismo
English Spanishidealism
realism mechanism optimism
organism
idealismorealismomechanismooptimismoorganismo
Nouns
#5. -nce → -ncia English Spanishabundance abundanciaarroganceexperience patience
intelligence
arroganciaexperienciapacienciainteligencia
Nouns
#6. -ty → -dad
English Spanishactivity actividadcuriosity
electricity identity
university
curiosidadelectricidadidentidaduniversidad
Nouns
#7. -tion → -ción
English Spanishassociation asociacióncombination combinacióncondition condiciónexemption exempcióninstruction instrución
NounsEnglish nouns ending with ‘-y’ often correspond to Spanishnouns ending with ‘-ía’, ‘ia’, or ‘io’.
#8. -y → '-ía', '-ia', or '-io' English Spanishagency agenciaagony agoníabattery bateríafamily familiahistory historiasalary salariotestimony testimoniodictionary diccionario
AdjectivesLike nouns, many English adjectives can be converted into Spanish simply by changing the word ending. Here are some useful rules.
#1. -ive → ivoEnglish Spanishactive activodecisive decisivofestive festivoeffective efectivoindicative indicativo
Adjectives
#2. -al = -alEnglish Spanishbrutal brutalusual usuallocal localcriminal criminalnatural natural
Adjectives
#4. -ic → -ico English Spanishmagnetic magnético fantastic fantásticoelectric eléctricoartistic artísticoautomatic automático
Adjectives
#5. -ble = -ble English Spanishadmirable admirableimpossible imposibleterrible terriblefavorable favorablenotable notable
Adjectives
#6. -nt → -nte English Spanishignorant ignoranteconvenient convenienteprudent prudenteimportant importantetriumphant triunfante
Adjectives
#7. -id → -ido English Spanishstupid estúpidolucid lúcidosplendid espléndidocandid cándidosolid sólido
Adjectives
#8. -ile → -il English Spanishagile ágilfragile frágilmobile móvil juvenile juvenilautomobile automóvil
Adjectives
#9. -ary → -ario English Spanisharbitrary arbitrarioordinary ordinarioimaginary imaginario
AdverbsIn English, "-ly" combines with many adjectives to form adverbs.In Spanish, "-mente" combines with (feminine) adjectives to form Spanish adverbs.
-ly → -mente English Spanishabsolutely absolutamente normally normalmentenaturally naturalmentefinally finalmentecorrectly correctamenteexactly exactamenteevidently evidentementedifficultly dificilmente
False CognatesMany words appears to be similar in English and Spanish, but do not have the same meaning. These are called “false cognates”. Below are a few examples of false cognates.
1.) embarazada – pregnant Does not mean “embarrassed”. embarrassed = avergonzado
2.) bizarro – brave; valiant Does not mean “strange” or “bizarre”
strange; bizarre = extraño; raro
3.) asistir – to attend Does not mean “to assist”to assist = ayudar (to help)
4.) éxito – success Does not mean “exit” exit = salida
5.) fábrica – factory Does not mean “fabric”
fabric = tejido
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