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500+ Useful Spanish Cognates (With PDF Download)

Even if today is your first day learning Spanish, you already know plenty of Spanish words. Actor, animal, bar, color, control… You know them in English, but they’re in italics here because they’re also all Spanish cognates.

Spanish and English have many such “twins,” and taking advantage of them will speed up your Spanish learning considerably.


What Are Spanish Cognates?

Cognates are words that look identical or similar in two languages and have the same meaning.

English and Spanish have borrowed many words from each other. This is helpful for English-speaking learners of Spanish (and vice versa)!

Cognates are the easiest way to expand your vocabulary. Just a quick look at the word, and you know its meaning.

But even though they look similar, there are often some differences in stress and pronunciation.

Beware of false cognates, though!

Often called “false friends,” these are words that look like cognates but aren’t. We have a full post explaining these here that you can check out after reading this one.

Common Spanish Cognates

Cognates are words that are spelled very similarly or exactly the same in both English and Spanish. And because they’re cognates, they mean exactly the same thing too.

Remember to listen for changes in pronunciation!

EnglishSpanish
To abandonAbandonar
AccidentAccidente
AdditionalAdicional
To administerAdministrar
To admitAdmitir
To adoptAdoptar
AdorableAdorable
To affectAfectar
To adjustAjustar
AlcoholAlcohol
AnimalAnimal
ArtArte
To assignAsignar
BankBanco
BarBar
CableCable
To calculateCalcular
To calmCalmar
CameraCámara
To cancelCancelar
CasualCasual
CeremonyCeremonia
CircleCírculo
To clarifyClarificar
ColonyColonia
ColorColor
To commentComentar
To complementComplementar
To considerConsiderar
To consultConsultar
ControlControl
To controlControlar
ConventionalConvencional
To cooperateCooperar
To coordinateCoordinar
To createCrear
To dedicateDedicar
DiaryDiario
To eliminateEliminar
EnemyEnemigo
EssentialEsencial
To estimateEstimar
To evaluateEvaluar
EventEvento
To exaggerateExagerar
ExcuseExcusa
To existExistir
To experimentExperimentar
To facilitateFacilitar
FamilyFamilia
To fascinateFascinar
To formFormar
FruitFruta
To gratifyGratificar
GroupGrupo
HereditaryHereditario
HospitalHospital
IdealIdeal
ImpartialImparcial
InsectInsecto
To insertInsertar
To insistInsistir
InstantInstante
To insultInsultar
To integrateIntegrar
To limitLimitar
LimitLímite
MemorableMemorable
To modifyModificar
To motivateMotivar
MuscularMuscular
MusicMúsica
To necessitate; to needNecesitar
NoteNota
OceanOcéano
To pacifyPacificar
PartParte
ParticularParticular
PlantPlanta
PoemPoema
To presentPresentar
PresidentPresidente
ProblemProblema
RadioRadio
To rectifyRectificar
ReligionReligión
To representRepresentar
SecretSecreto
SilenceSilencio
TemperatureTemperatura
TemporalTemporal
TolerableTolerable
TropicalTropical
VitalVital

Rules and Patterns for Spanish Cognates

Knowing the patterns cognates follow makes it much easier to take an educated guess when you’re not sure of a word!

For example, if you aren’t 100% sure how to say “professional” in Spanish during a conversation, you might say profesional because you know the Spanish cognate patterns—and in this case, you’d be correct.

Here are the most common patterns for Spanish cognates that you should commit to memory:

-ant → -ante / -ente

EnglishSpanish
assistantasistente
brilliantbrillante
constantconstante
distantdistante
dominantdominante
elegantelegante
extravagantextravagante
exuberantexuberante
fragrantfragante
giantgigante
ignorantignorante
immigrantinmigrante
importantimportante
militantmilitante
occupantocupante
participantparticipante
rampantrampante
relevantrelevante
toleranttolerante

-al → -al

EnglishSpanish
accidentalaccidental
capitalcapital
centralcentral
commercialcomercial
criminalcriminal
culturalcultural
digitaldigital
educationaleducacional
emotionalemocional
exceptionalexcepcional
finalfinal
formalformal
functionalfuncional
globalglobal
gradualgradual
industrialindustrial
integralintegral
internationalinternacional
legallegal
locallocal
manualmanual
materialmaterial
metalmetal
musicalmusical
nationalnacional
naturalnatural
originaloriginal
parentalparental
personalpersonal
professionalprofesional
ruralrural
socialsocial
specialespecial
totaltotal

-ar → -ar

EnglishSpanish
angularangular
cellularcelular
circularcircular
familiarfamiliar
lunarlunar
molecularmolecular
polarpolar
popularpopular
regularregular
secularsecular
similarsimilar
singularsingular
spectacularespectacular
stellarestelar
vascularvascular
vulgarvulgar

-ary → -ario

EnglishSpanish
complementarycomplementario
stacionaryestacionario
extraordinaryextraordinario
honoraryhonorario
imaginaryimaginario
involuntaryinvoluntario
literaryliterario
necessarynecesario
ordinaryordinario
solitarysolitario
vocabularyvocabulario

-ate → -ar

EnglishSpanish
activateactivar
appreciateapreciar
celebratecelebrar
collaboratecolaborar
communicatecomunicar
decoratedecorar
demonstratedemostrar
educateeducar
investigateinvestigar
operateoperar
participateparticipar
regulateregular

-ble → -ble

EnglishSpanish
admirableadmirable
amiableamable
audibleaudible
ediblecomestible
compatiblecompatible
feasiblefactible
flexibleflexible
horriblehorrible
incredibleincreíble
indelibleindeleble
invincibleinvencible
noblenoble
plausibleplausible
possibleposible
probableprobable
responsibleresponsable
susceptiblesusceptible
tangibletangible
terribleterrible
visiblevisible
vulnerablevulnerable

-ct → -cto / -to

EnglishSpanish
abstractabstracto
architectarquitecto
aspectaspecto
compactcompacto
conflictconflicto
contactcontacto
correctcorrecto
defectdefecto
directdirecto
distinctdistinto
effectefecto
strictestricto
exactexacto
indirectindirecto
instinctinstinto
intactintacto
objectobjeto
perfectperfecto
prospectprospecto
projectproyecto
respectrespeto
subjectsujeto

-ic → -ico

EnglishSpanish
artisticartístico
basicbásico
classicclásico
economiceconómico
electriceléctrico
electronicelectrónico
fantasticfantástico
geneticgenético
historichistórico
ironicirónico
linguisticlingüístico
organicorgánico
panicpánico
plasticplástico
psychicpsíquico
publicpúblico
romanticromántico
scientificcientífico
specificespecífico
strategicestratégico
tragictrágico

-id → -ido

EnglishSpanish
acidácido
stupidestúpido
intrepidintrépido
liquidlíquido
rapidrápido
solidsólido
timidtímido
validválido

-ify (verbs) → -ificar

EnglishSpanish
amplifyamplificar
classifyclasificar
codifycodificar
dignifydignificar
identifyidentificar
justifyjustificar
notifynotificar
petrifypetrificar
simplifysimplificar
specifyespecificar

-ile → -il

EnglishSpanish
dociledócil
fragilefrágil
hostilehostil
mobilemóvil
puerilepueril
sterileestéril

-ism → -ismo

EnglishSpanish
alpinismalpinismo
capitalismcapitalismo
communismcomunismo
egoismegoísmo
feminismfeminismo
mechanismmecanismo
optimismoptimismo
organismorganismo
racismracismo
realismrealismo

-ist → -ista

EnglishSpanish
artistartista
dentistdentista
egoistegoísta
feministfeminista
optimistoptimista
pianistpianista
protagonistprotagonista
realistrealista
touristturista

-ity → -idad

EnglishSpanish
abilityhabilidad
activityactividad
adversityadversidad
anxietyansiedad
authorityautoridad
communitycomunidad
creativitycreatividad
curiositycuriosidad
difficultydificultad
diversitydiversidad
equalityigualdad
generositygenerosidad
hospitalityhospitalidad
identityidentidad
possibilityposibilidad
qualitycalidad
realityrealidad
securityseguridad
simplicitysimplicidad
universityuniversidad

-ive → -ivo

EnglishSpanish
affirmativeafirmativo
attractiveatractivo
competitivecompetitivo
constructiveconstructivo
creativecreativo
decisivedecisivo
defensivedefensivo
effectiveefectivo
instinctiveinstintivo
massivemasivo
negativenegativo
objectiveobjetivo
passivepasivo
positivepositivo
progressiveprogresivo
reflectivereflexivo

-ly → -mente

EnglishSpanish
absolutelyabsolutamente
basicallybásicamente
clearlyclaramente
completelycompletamente
constantlyconstantemente
especiallyespecialmente
eventuallyeventualmente
evidentlyevidentemente
exactlyexactamente
generallygeneralmente
immediatelyinmediatamente
naturallynaturalmente
obviouslyobviamente
originallyoriginalmente
personallypersonalmente
possiblyposiblemente
practicallyprácticamente
principallyprincipalmente
rapidlyrápidamente
reallyrealmente
relativelyrelativamente
seriouslyseriamente
simplysimplemente
sincerelysinceramente
sociallysocialmente
solelysolamente
typicallytípicamente
totallytotalmente

-ment → -mento

EnglishSpanish
argumentargumento
complementcomplemento
departmentdepartamento
documentdocumento
experimentexperimento
fundamentfundamento
instrumentinstrumento
momentmomento
monumentmonumento
movementmovimiento
parliamentparlamento
sentimentsentimiento
treatmenttratamiento

-nce → -ncia

EnglishSpanish
abundanceabundancia
adolescenceadolescencia
appearanceapariencia
conscienceconciencia
differencediferencia
evidenceevidencia
excellenceexcelencia
experienceexperiencia
influenceinfluencia
independenceindependencia
obedienceobediencia
patiencepaciencia
referencereferencia
resistanceresistencia
subsistencesubsistencia
transparencytransparencia
urgencyurgencia

-nt → -nte

EnglishSpanish
abundantabundante
brilliantbrillante
constantconstante
elegantelegante
excellentexcelente
importantimportante
intelligentinteligente
interestinginteresante
patientpaciente
sufficientsuficiente
valiantvaliente
vibrantvibrante

-or → -or

EnglishSpanish
actoractor
authorautor
competitorcompetidor
directordirector
distributordistribuidor
doctordoctor
editoreditor
favorfavor
inventorinventor
investorinversor
moderatormoderador
motormotor
precursorprecursor
professorprofesor
rumorrumor
spectatorespectador
traitortraidor

-ous → -oso

EnglishSpanish
curiouscurioso
deliciousdelicioso
dubiousdudoso
famousfamoso
generousgeneroso
glamorousglamoroso
gloriousglorioso
luminousluminoso
mysteriousmisterioso
preciousprecioso
spaciousespacioso
timoroustemeroso
valorousvaleroso
virtuousvirtuoso

-sion → -sión

EnglishSpanish
abrasionabrasión
adhesionadhesión
aggressionagresión
ascensionascensión
aversionaversión
cohesioncohesión
comprehensioncomprensión
concessionconcesión
conclusionconclusión
confusionconfusión
conversionconversión
correlationcorrelación
decisiondecisión
dimensiondimensión
demissiondimisión
discussiondiscusión
distortiondistorsión
divisiondivisión
emissionemisión
expansionexpansión
expressionexpresión
extensionextensión
illusionilusión
impressionimpresión
inclusioninclusión
immersioninmersión
inversioninversión
missionmisión
passionpasión
persuasionpersuasión
precisionprecisión
professionprofesión
suspensionsuspensión
tensiontensión
transmissiontransmisión
versionversión
visionvisión

-tion → -ción

EnglishSpanish
actionacción
addictionadicción
celebrationcelebración
collaborationcolaboración
collectioncolección
combinationcombinación
communicationcomunicación
conditioncondición
constructionconstrucción
contributioncontribución
conversationconversación
correctioncorrección
definitiondefinición
directiondirección
educationeducación
electionelección
elevationelevación
exceptionexcepción
expectationexpectación
explanationexplicación
generationgeneración
imaginationimaginación
infectioninfección
informationinformación
interpretationinterpretación
invitationinvitación
nationnación
observationobservación
occasionocasión
operationoperación
organizationorganización
populationpoblación
positionposición
preparationpreparación
presentationpresentación
preventionprevención
promotionpromoción
protectionprotección
recommendationrecomendación
relaxationrelajación
respirationrespiración
selectionselección
situationsituación
solutionsolución
variationvariación
vibrationvibración

 

Learning cognates can be a cool way of improving your Spanish vocabulary with little effort.

And now you’re more than 500 words closer to becoming a proficient speaker of Spanish!

You can also see these words in use and discover even more Spanish cognates with programs like FluentU. The interactive subtitles let you double-check the meaning of each word in every video you watch, so you don’t have to worry about “false friends.”

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)

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As always, happy studying!

And One More Thing…

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU.

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

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FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

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Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab.

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Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

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The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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