Definition of Cognate

In a technical sense, two words that have a common origin are cognates. Most often, cognates are words in two languages that have a common etymology, or background,  and are similar or identical. For example, the English word kiosk and the Spanish quiosco are cognates because they both come from the Turkish word  kosk. Other English and Spanish Cognates One of the best things about learning Spanish from English is that there are about 1,000 words that are cognates or are borrowed from a common language. In addition to the advantage of using the same alphabet, you can effectively know many word meanings without even trying. Examples of cognate pairs include azure and azul, committee and comità © and telephone and telà ©fono. Other terms meaning cognate in Spanish are palabra afà ­n, palabra relacionada  or palabra cognada. Word Meanings Can Change Over Time Cognates often have a similar meaning, but in some cases the meaning can change over the centuries in one language or another. An example of such a change is the English word arena, which usually refers to a sports facility, and the Spanish arena, which means sand. Both words come from the Latin word harena, which originally meant sand and both can refer to an area of a Roman amphitheater that was covered with sand. Spanish retained the meaning of sand, and also uses the word to refer to a sports arena. English only borrowed the word from Latin meaning arena as a facility like a Roman amphitheater. English already had a word for sand, and it is not a cognate of arena. False Cognates False cognates are words that people commonly believe are related, but that linguistic examination reveals are unrelated and have no common origin. Another term for this is false friends. An example of false friends are the Spanish word sopa, meaning soup, and the English word, soap. Both look alike, but are not related. The Spanish word for soap is jabà ³n. Other examples of false cognates include the English word much and the Spanish word mucho, both look similar and have a similar meaning but are not cognates, as they evolved from different roots: much from early Germanic and mucho from Latin. The Spanish word parar, meaning to stop, and the English word pare, meaning, to trim, are also false cognates. List of Common False Cognates There are many words that are cognates in English and Spanish. You see a word, it reminds you of an English word. You understand the meaning. But there are some trap words that can make you think it means one thing, but in fact, does not mean what it sounds like. What follows is a list of common false cognates to help you navigate past the traps. Spanish Word Meaning Use in a Sentence Actualmente Does not mean actually, it is an adverb that means currently. Actualmente el presidente de Estados Unidos es Donald Trump. Contestar Does not mean to contest, it is a verb that means to answer. Voy a contestar el telfono. Constipado Does not mean constipado, it means to have a cold. Esta constipado. Embarazada Does not mean embarrassing, it means being pregnant. Mi hermana est embarazada. En absoluto Does not mean absolutely, it means not at all. No me gustan los perros en absoluto. Minorista Does not mean minority, it is an adjective for retail or noun for retailer. Macys es una tienda minorista. Molestar Does not mean molest, it is a verb that means to annoy. No molestes a su hermano. Realizar Does not mean to realize, it is a verb that refers to something becoming real or completed. Yo realic mi sueo de ser abogado. Tuna Does not mean tuna fish, it means prickly pear cactus. Quiero bebir jugo de tuna.