Nombre: ___________________________________________ Hora: ________
COGNATES / COGNADOS
● Words that are related: they look/sound alike and have similar meanings in English and
Spanish
Exact Cognates:
Some cognates in Spanish are SPELLED EXACTLY the way they are in English.
Circle the words that are IDENTICAL to the English word.
Animal Modesto Individual Social Inferior
Comercial Notable Elemento Terrible Moderno
Correcto Posible Excelente Visible Normal
Cruel Real Favorito Idea Plan
Drama Talento Honor Diferencia Problema
Especial Valor Liberal Director Superior
Favor Hotel Natural Doctor Universal
General Importancia Personal Error Exterior
Interior Imposible Probable Flexible
Direct Cognates:
Many other cognates are easily understood and recognized if we keep in mind certain
pronunciation and spelling changes between the two languages.
A. Many words that end in –ción have an English cognate ending in –tion.
Ex: pronunciación= pronunciation combinación= combination
Actividad A:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. Admiración __________________ 6. Invitación___________________
2. Aviación_____________________ 7. Nación_____________________
3. Celebración __________________ 8. Producción__________________
4. Civilización___________________ 9. Repetición__________________
5. Dirección_____________________ 10. Sección_____________________
B. Many words that end in –dad have an English cognate ending in –ty.
Ex: Sociedad= society Electricidad= electricity
Actividad B:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. autoridad______________________ 6. necesidad____________________
2. capacidad_____________________ 7. posibilidad____________________
3. curiosidad_____________________ 8. realidad______________________
4. eternidad______________________ 9. universidad____________________
5. generosidad____________________ 10. variedad_____________________
C. Many words that end in –ia, ía, or io have an English cognate ending in –y.
Ex: familia= family Vocabulario= vocabulary
Actividad C:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. Antonio______________________ 6. historia______________________
2. democracia___________________ 7. María_______________________
3. dormitorio____________________ 8. memoria_____________________
4. farmacia_____________________ 9. necesario____________________
5. geografía_____________________ 10. Remedio_____________________
D. Many words that end in –oso have an English cognate ending in –ous.
Ex: Misterioso= misterious Rigoroso= rigorous
Actividad D:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. curioso______________________ 6. montañoso___________________
2. famoso______________________ 7. nervioso_____________________
3. generoso_____________________ 8. numeroso____________________
4. glorioso______________________ 9. precioso______________________
5. furioso_______________________ 10. religioso_____________________
E. Many words that end in –mente have an English cognate ending in -ly.
Ex: finalmente= finally
Actividad E:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. correctamente__________________ 6. naturalmente___________________
2. diligentemente__________________ 7. perfectamente__________________
3. exactamente____________________ 8. rápidamente____________________
4. frecuentemente_________________ 9. recientemente___________________
5. inmediatamente_________________ 10. Sinceramente___________________
F. In Spanish, words almost never start with “s” + a consonant. Many English words that start
with “s” + a consonant have a Spanish cognate beginning with “es-.”
Ex: espacio= space Escuela= school
Actividad F:
Write the English word that corresponds to the following Spanish Words:
1. escena________________________ 6. espíritu________________________
2. escriba________________________ 7. esplendido_____________________
3. España________________________ 8. estudiante______________________
4. especial_______________________ 9. estación________________________
5. espectáculo____________________ 10. estúpido_______________________
Indirect Cognates:
Many Spanish words are indirectly related in form and meaning to English words. There is an
easily-recognized similarity between the two words, and an in-direct connection in meaning.
Ex: “libro”= book -> library= place where books are kept
Spanish word English meaning English cognate
Agua Water Aquarium, aquamarine
Alto Tall/high altitude
Amor Love Amorous
Aprender To learn Apprentice
Árbol Tree Arbor, arboretum
Ascensor Elevator To ascend (rise), ascent
Spanish Word English Meaning English cognate
Azul Blue azure
Bailar, el baile To dance, the dance Ballet, ballerina
Beber To drink beverage
Biblioteca Library Bibliography (list of books)
Brazo Arm Bracelet, embrace
Calor Heat Calorie (the measure of heat in science)
Cantar To sing chant
Carne Meat Carnivore, carnivorous
Cien, ciento 100 century
Cine Movie theater cinema
Comprender To understand comprehend
Contra Against/opposing contrary
Correr To run Current, courier (messenger)
Creer To believe Credible, creed (belief)
¿Cuánto? How much? quantity
Deber to owe/ to be obligated to… Debt, debtor
Décimo Tenth decimal
Día Day diary
Diente Tooth Dentist, dental
Dormir, dormitorio To sleep, bedroom Dormant, dormitory
Duro Hard Endure, durable
Enfermera Nurse Infirmary
For each of the following words, write the related Spanish word and what it means in English:
English word Related Spanish word Meaning of Spanish word
1. ballet
2. dental
3. beverage
4. century
5. debt
6. apprentice
7. durable
