ESPAÑOL-ENGLISH

COGNADOS-COGNATES

By Martha Abeille
? What are Cognates?
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 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, attend:
attend asistir a, cuidar,
take 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, distinct:
distinct claro, visible,
several diferente, distinto
éxito:
éxito success exit:
exit salida
embarrassed:
embarrassed turbado,
embarazada:
embarazada pregnant
desconcertado
 Spanish-English English-Spanish
fábrica:
fábrica factory, mill, fabric:
fabric tela, textura,
structure construcción
lecture:
lecture conferencia,
lectura:
lectura reading
lección,plática
media:
media (pl. of medium) medios de
media:
media stocking
comunicación (radio, tv etc.)
parientes:
parientes relatives parents:
parents padres
quitar:
quitar to take away, deprive quitar:
quitar abandonar, cesar,
of, subtract parar, dejar de hacer algo
ropa:
ropa clothes, clothing rope:
rope soga, cuerda
recordar:
recordar to remember, record:
record registrar, apuntar,
recall, remind, awaken grabar en disco
sauce:
sauce willow sauce:
sauce salsa, condimento
 Spanish-English English-Spanish
simpático:
simpático agreeable, sympathetic:compasivo,
sympathetic
pleasant, cogenial simpatizante
taller:
taller workshop, studio taller:
taller más alto
tutor:
tutor maestro particular,
tutor:
tutor guardian, tutor
tutor
tuna:
tuna prickly pear tuna:
tuna atún
unión:
unión joining, joint union:
union unión, sindicato