Words that are similar in spelling (ortografia) in different languages. Different pronounciation Examples:

autochocolatecónsulfamiliargashotelideamelónmillónplazaradioregularsimilarteléfonovilla

English words that end in -or often have a Spanish cognate that is identical. The stress is different.

Examples: actor

authorcolordirectordoctorhumor

Examples:

aireatleta (athlete)causa

costocreativocreditodietadrama

Words that end in -al in both English and Spanish are cognates.

Examples;

animalanualcapitalcentralcomercialespecialgeneralhospitalintelectual

Some English words that end in -ous have a Spanish cognate that ends in -oso.

Examples: ambicious

curiousdeliciousfamousgloriousgracious

Many Spanish words that end in –ma are cognates in English.

Examples: climate

problemprogramsystemtheme

Spanish words that end in –cion are cognates with English words that end in -tion.

Examples: información information separación separation

situación situationviolación violation

-ant (–ent ) words in English sometimes end in -ante in Spanish.

Examples: abundant

constantelegantstudentimportant

Spanish words that end in –ario are cognates with English words that end in –ary

Examples: anniversary

dictionarynecessaryvocabulary

Spanish words that end in –dad have English cognates that end in –ty

Examples: authority

citycommunitydifficultyvelocity

Spanish words that end in –tico have English cognates that end in -ico

Examples: atlantic

pacificautomaticromanticsarcastic

fantastic

English words that end in –ical

Examples:

comicalelectricalphysicalpracticaltechnical

Spanish words that end in –ente have English cognates that end in –ent. These words are usually adjectives.

Examples: agent

clientdifferentintelligentsufficient

Spanish words that end in – mente. They usually have an English cognate that ends in -ly.

Examples:

correctlyunfortunately

especiallyexactlyfinallygenerallynormallyrapidly

English words that end in -ence or -ance often have a Spanish cognate that ends in -encia or -ancia.

Examples: abundance

absencecircumstanceconsciencedifference

English words with the ending -y sometimes have an equivalent in Spanish with the ending -ia or -io.

Examples: aristocracy

companydemocracyfamilypharmacyhistor

English words that end in -ist often have a Spanish cognate.

Examples: artist

floristpharmacistpianistturist

El elefante es un animal inteligente. The elephant is an intelligent animal.

Hay muchos elefantes en Africa. There are many elephants in Africa.

El camello es un animal enorme. Hay camellos en el desierto.The camel is an enormous animal. There are camels in the desert.

El tigre es otro animal. The tiger is another animal.

Hay muchos animales feroces en el circo. There are many ferouscious animals in the circus.

Cognates help to language learners feel more comfortable with this new language.

Establishes a link between English and Spanish.

Students are aware of the common origin of words.

Allows students to explore the language far beyond from school’s objectives.

Activities for finding and using cognatesLook for cognates in their textbook.Read magazines and newspapers in order to

find cognatesTry to translate the main idea of a paragraph

by identifying cognates that will help to understand its content.