1.3 Grammar - Cognates
Completion requirements
Spanish Language and Culture 10-3Y
Grammar - Gramática
Cognates
Some people get confused with false cognates and use them as true cognates. Then, they end up saying something they did not mean to say! Look at the following examples.
True Cognate
Los animales de la jungla son el gorila, el tigre y el leopardo.
See, you just read a whole sentence in Spanish!
Los animales de la jungla son el gorila, el tigre y el leopardo.
See, you just read a whole sentence in Spanish!
False Cognate
|
Quiero una copa de café. → I want a goblet of coffee.
Copa in English means goblet. Cup in Spanish is taza, not copa. Copa is a false cognate for cup. |
| The correct version would be | |
|
Yo quiero una taza de café. → I want a cup of coffee.
They sound similar but they have completely different meanings. False cognates can mislead you if you don't learn their true meanings. |
False cognates are words that look alike but have different meanings in English and Spanish.
True Cognates
Click the + on these tabs, then on the sound icon to listen to the Spanish pronunciation.
Some of these are actually the most difficult to say in Spanish, because if we don't hear and practice them, we default to our English pronunciation. Take the time to listen and practice.
Some of these are actually the most difficult to say in Spanish, because if we don't hear and practice them, we default to our English pronunciation. Take the time to listen and practice.
| True Cognates | Sentences |
|
the telephone
vs
el teléfono
|
El teléfono es negro. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the dictionary
vs
el diccionario
|
Él usa el diccionario |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the radio
vs
la radio
|
Escucho la radio. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the computer
vs
la computadora
|
Ella usa la computadora. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the car
vs
el carro
|
El carro es rojo. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the piano
vs
el piano
|
Me gusta el piano. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the trumpet
vs
la trompeta
|
Él toca la trompeta. |
| False Cognates | Sentences |
|
the elephant
vs el elefante
|
El elefante es grande. |
False Cognates
