COGNATES WORDS

Cognate words is not exactly a reading technique which will help you get the meaning of
unknown words; instead, cognate words confirm the meaning of some words you already know
in your own language. That is to say that cognate words refer to words which have the same or
similar writing (and even pronunciation in some cases) in both Spanish and English. But be
careful because there are true cognate words and false cognate words.
True cognate words: They resemble Spanish words and their meaning is the same or at least
quite similar in both languages. For example: human, gas, petrol, etc.

False cognate words: They resemble Spanish words but their meaning is so far away from the
one we could believe at first sight. For example, actual, exit, diversion, lecture, etc.
BELOW YOU ARE GIVEN A LIST OF THE MOST COMMON FALSE COGNATE
WORDS.
False Cognate Word in Actual Meaning into English Translation of the
English Spanish word you could’ve
thought
Quit Abandonar Remove
Mayor Alcalde Bigger, higher
Carpet Alfombra Folder
Attend Asistir, estar presente Assist, help
Embarrassed Avergonzado Pregnant
Assist Atender Attend
Camp Campo (militar) Field (in general)
Library Biblioteca Book store
Arm Brazo Weapon
Pan Porra Bread
Traduce Difamar Translate
Compromise Consensuar Implicate, involve
Dinner Cena Money
Sympathy Compasión Charm
Sympathetic Compasivo Pleasant, agreeable
Contest Concurso Answer
Lecture Conferencia Reading
Advice Consejo Advertisement
Gracious Caballeroso Funny
Rope Cuerda Clothes
Horn Cuerno Oven
Realize Darse cuenta Achieve
Stranger Desconocido Foreigner
Parade Desfile Bus stop
Diversion Desvío Amusement
Discrete Específico Cautious
Intoxicated Borracho Poisoned
Zealous Entusiasta Jealous
Success Éxito Event
Salad Ensalada Salty
Deception Engaño Disappointment
Arena Lugar de batalla Sand
Incidental Relacionado Trivial
College Universidad School
Terrific Genial Terrible, awful
Signature Firma Subject
Balloon Globo Ball
Large Grande, enorme Long
Tax Impuesto Taxi
Ingenuity Ingenio, habilidad Naiveté
Bark Ladrar Ship
Place Lugar Square
Luxury Lujo Lust
Curse Maldición Course
Rude Grosero Severe
Media Medios de comunicación Half
Billion Mil millones One trillion
Idiom Frase idiomática Language
Target Blanco (objetivo) Card
Office Oficina Profession
Command Orden Commando
Parents Padres Relatives
Spade Pala Sword
Relative Pariente Related
Sin Pecado Without
Dessert Postre Desert
Remove Quitar Stir, shake
Actual Real Current
Resume Reanudar Summarize
Recollection Recuerdo Compilation, gathering
Exit Salida Success
Appreciably Considerablemente Significantly
Sensible Sensato Sensitive
Constipated Estreñido Cold
Fabric Tela Factory
Misery Desgracia, tristeza Poverty
Grocery Abarrotes Impoliteness, rudeness
Tramp Vagabundo Trap
Brave Valiente Fierce
Fume Gases, vapor Smoke