Cognates are words that are spelled identically, and often have the same meaning, in more than one language. For example, passion is written the same in French as in English. Read our article Why reading 'The Times' will improve your French for more background information on French-English cognates.
Here are a further selection (the above article mentions another twenty) of some of the most useful French-English cognates, with the more commonly used English equivalent to the right of each one:
|
abstinent |
(teetotaler) |
|
affable |
(likable) |
|
brusque |
(gruff) |
|
corpulent |
(obese) |
|
d�but* |
(start) |
|
demi |
(half, part) |
|
discordant |
(disharmonious) |
|
explication |
(explanation) |
|
exposition |
(exhibition) |
|
ferment |
(social unrest) |
|
filiation |
(paternity) |
|
insucc�s* |
(failure) |
|
machination |
(plot) |
|
nomenclature |
(terminology) |
|
serpent |
(snake) |
|
sobriquet |
(nickname) |
|
utilise |
(use) |
|
vagabond |
(tramp, hobo) |
|
veritable |
(genuine) |
|
vestibule |
(hallway) |
*Spelled 'debut' (without the accent) and 'insuccess' (rarely seen) in English.
