Cognates are words that are spelled identically or near-identically, and often have the same meaning, in more than one language. For example, biolog�a means the same in Spanish as in English, and the spelling in both languages is very similar.
Here are a selection of some of the most useful Spanish-English cognates, with the more commonly used English equivalent to the right of each one:
|
afable |
(likeable) |
|
aut�ntico |
(genuine) |
|
brusco |
(gruff) |
|
comenzar |
(start) |
|
corpulento |
(obese) |
|
debut |
(beginning) |
|
diatriba |
(outburst) |
|
discordia |
(non-agreement) |
|
expl�cito |
(clear) |
|
exposici�n |
(exhibition) |
|
filial |
(son's/daughter's) |
|
inclinaci�n |
(liking) |
|
maquinaciones* |
(plots) |
|
pillaje |
(looting) |
|
recalcitrante |
(persistant wrongdoer) |
|
serpiente |
(snake) |
|
utilizar |
(use) |
|
vagabundo |
(tramp, hobo) |
|
vest�bulo |
(hallway) |
|
yuxtaposici�n* |
(side-by-side) |
*Spelled 'machinations' and 'juxtaposition' (rarely seen) in English.
