Cognates and False Cognates Examples: English and Romance Languages

Adros Verse
An overview of the similarities between English and Romance languages, highlighting shared vocabulary, cognates, and false cognates
English vs Romance languages

English belongs to a family of languages called Germanic languages. Other examples of Germanic languages include: German, Dutch, Afrikaans, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. On the other hand, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French. Catalan, and Romanian fall under Romance languages.

Despite belonging to two distinct language groups, English shares a substantial amount of vocabulary with Romance languages, unlike other Germanic languages. The main reason is attributed to the Norman Conquest of England in the eleventh century, as a result of which, the English language borrowed a lot of French words.

French is a Romance language and shares Latin roots, and thus a lot of vocabulary, with other Romance languages like Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. You can recognize the link here between these languages and English via the French language. As a result, Romance languages are considered among the easiest languages to learn for English speakers.

English Cognates

History aside, we can use this link to our advantage. Many Romance language words are cognates of English words. English cognates refer to words which are descended directly from the common language of their ancestors.

Many words that begin with “h” in Spanish correspond to words that begin with “f” in Portuguese, Italian, and French, which is the original spelling in the Latin source. Here are some examples:

ENSPPTITFRLatin
falconhalcĂłnfalcĂŁofalconefauconfalco
fighigofigoficofigueficus
smoke/fumehumofumaçafumofuméefumus

Here is a list of some parallels between English and words in the four Romance languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French.

ENSPPTITFRExamples
‑ile‑il‑il‑ile‑ileSPágil, frágil
PTágil, frágil
ITagile, fragile
FRagile, fragile
‑or‑or‑or‑ore‑eur
‑eure
SPinterior, favor
PTinterior, favor
ITinteriore, favore
FRintérieur, faveur
‑ble‑ble‑vel‑bile‑bleSPnotable, posible
PTnotável, possível
ITnotabile, possibile
FRnotable, possible
‑al‑al‑al‑ale‑al
‑ale
SPanimal, canal
PTanimal, canal
ITanimale, canale
FRanimal, canal
‑ic‑ico
‑ica
‑ico
‑ica
‑ico
‑ica
‑iqueSPpúblico, romántico
PTpúblico, romântico
ITpubblico, romantico
FRpublique, romantique
‑ant‑ante‑ante‑ante‑ant
‑ante
SPelegante, importante
PTelegante, importante
ITelegante, importante
FRélégant, important
‑ent‑ente‑ente‑ente‑ent
‑ente
SPinteligente, diferente
PTinteligente, diferente
ITintelligente, differente
FRintelligent, différent
‑ment‑mento‑mento‑mento‑mentSPdocumento, elemento
PTdocumento, elemento
ITdocumento, elemento
FRdocument, élément
‑ist‑ista‑ista‑ista‑isteSPartista, dentista, turista
PTartista, dentista, turista
ITartista, dentista, turista
FRartiste, dentiste, touriste
‑am‑ama‑ama‑amma‑ammeSPdiagrama, programa
PTdiagrama, programa
ITdiagramma, programma
FRdiagramme, programme
‑em‑ema‑ema‑ema‑èmeSPproblema, sistema
PTproblema, sistema
ITproblema, sistema
FRproblème, système
‑ous‑oso
‑osa
‑oso
‑osa
‑oso
‑osa
‑eux
‑euse
SPcurioso, famoso
PTcurioso, famoso
ITcurioso, famoso
FRcurieux, fameux
‑ry‑rio
‑ria
‑rio
‑ria
‑rio
‑ria
‑aireSPcontrario, imaginario
PTcontrário, imaginario
ITcontrario, immaginario
FRcontraire, imaginaire
‑tion‑ción‑ção‑zione‑tionSPcondición, nación
PTcondição, nação
ITcondizione, nazione
FRcondition, nation
‑tional‑cional‑cional‑zionale‑tionnel
‑tionnelle
SPcondicional, racional
PTcondicional, racional
ITcondizionale, razionale
FRconditionnel, rationnel
‑tial‑cial‑cial‑ziale‑tiel
‑tielle
SPesencial, parcial
PTessencial, parcial
ITessenziale, parziale
FRessentiel, partiel
‑ty‑dad‑dade‑tà‑téSPautoridad, unidad
PTautoridade, unidade
ITautoritĂ , unitĂ 
FRautorité, unité
‑ly‑mente‑mente‑mente‑mentSPtotalmente, normalmente
PTtotalmente, normalmente
ITtotalmente, normalmente
FRtotalement, normalement
‑sion‑sión‑são‑sione‑sionSPdecisión, conversión
PTdecisĂŁo, conversĂŁo
ITdecisione, conversione
FRdécision, conversion
‑ism‑ismo‑ismo‑ismo‑ismeSPcomunismo, organismo
PTcomunismo, organismo
ITcomunismo, organismo
FRcommunisme, organisme
‑id‑ido
‑ida
‑ido
‑ida
‑ido
‑ida
‑ideSPfluido, sólido
PTfluido, sĂłlido
ITfluido, solido
FRfluide, solide
‑ive‑ivo
‑iva
‑ivo
‑iva
‑ivo
‑iva
‑if
‑ive
SPactivo, negativo
PTativo, negativo
ITattivo, negativo
FRactif,  nĂ©gatif

False Cognates

Although cognates will often have the same meaning as in English, it is important to note that this is not always the case, as languages have evolved separately. Remember that false cognates are words in any two different languages that appear similar in spelling or pronunciation, but have very distinct meanings. They can present significant challenges for language learners because their appearance could lead to misconceptions in comprehension or usage errors.

Common False Cognates: English vs. Spanish

You may guess that the Spanish word “embarazada” means â€śembarrassed.” Your guess would be wrong. To say that you are embarrassed in Spanish, you should use the adjective “avergonzado” for masculine or “avergonzada” for feminine. The Spanish word “embarazada” in fact means â€śpregnant.” Here are more examples of Spanish false cognates:

  1. Éxito

The Spanish word “Ă©xito” means â€śsuccess,” whereas to say â€śexit” in Spanish we use “salida.”

  1. Largo

The Spanish word “largo” means â€ślong,” whereas to say â€ślarge” in Spanish we use “grande.”

  1. Recordar

The Spanish verb “recordar” means â€śto remind or remember.” To say â€śto record” in Spanish, we use the verb “grabar.”

  1. Actual

The Spanish word “actual” means â€ścurrent,” whereas to say â€śactual” in Spanish we use “real.”

  1. Red

The Spanish word “red” means â€śnetwork,” e.g., “redes sociales” (social media), whereas the word for the color â€śred” in Spanish is “rojo.”

Common False Cognates: English vs. Portuguese

The Portuguese word “parentes” may appear to mean â€śparents,” but, in reality, it means â€śrelatives.” The word for â€śparents” in Portuguese is “pais.” Here are more examples:

  1. ĂŠxito

The Portuguese word “ĂŞxito” means â€śsuccess,” whereas to say â€śexit” in Portuguese we use “saĂ­da.”

  1. Fábrica

The Portuguese word “fábrica” means â€śfactory,” whereas to say â€śfabric” in Portuguese we use “tecido.”

  1. Realizar

The Portuguese verb “recordar” means â€śto accomplish.” To say â€śto realize” in Portuguese, we use the verb “perceber.”

  1. Atual

The Portuguese word “atual” means â€ścurrent,” whereas to say â€śactual” in Portuguese we use “real.”

  1. Data

The Portuguese word “data” means â€śdate,” e.g., “data do evento” (date of the event), whereas the word for â€śdata” in Portuguese is “dados.”

Common False Cognates: English vs. Italian

The Italian word “camera” means room, not the device you use to take photos. That would be “macchina fotografica.” Similarly, the word “fabbrica” in Italian means â€śfactory” and not â€śfabric.” Here are more examples of Italian false cognates:

  1. Confrontare

The Italian verb “confrontare” means â€śto compare.” To say â€śto confront” in Italian, we use the verb “affrontare.”

  1. Eventualmente

The Italian word “eventualmente” means â€śpossibly,” whereas to say â€śeventually” in Italian we use “infine.”

  1. Grosso

The Italian word “grosso” means â€śbig,” whereas to say â€śgross” in Italian we use “schifoso.”

  1. Libreria

The Italian word “libreria” means â€śbookstore,” whereas to say â€ślibrary” in Italian we use “biblioteca.”

  1. Ricordare

The Italian verb “ricordare” means â€śto remind or remember,” whereas to say â€śto record” in Italian we use the verb “registrare.”

Common False Cognates: English vs. French

The French word “dĂ©ception” means disappointment or disillusion, not â€śdeception” as you may have guessed. That would be “tromperie.” Similarly, the word “location” in French means â€śrental” and not â€ślocation.” Here are more examples of French false cognates:

  1. Attendre

The French verb “attendre” means â€śto wait.” To say â€śto attend” in French, e.g., a meeting, conference, etc., we use the verb “assister Ă .”

  1. Librairie

The French word “librairie” means â€śbookstore,” whereas to say â€ślibrary” in French we use “bibliothèque.”

  1. Monnaie

The French word “monnaie” means â€śmoney change,” whereas to say â€śmoney” in French we use “argent.”

  1. Prune

The French word “prune” means â€śplum,” whereas to say â€śprune” in French we use “pruneau.”

  1. Raisin

The French word “raisin” means â€śgrape,” whereas to say â€śraisin” in French we use “raisin sec.”

Common False Cognates: Spanish vs. Portuguese

False cognates not only exist between English and Romance language, but they also exist between Romance languages themselves. Here are some examples of false friends between Spanish and Portuguese:

  1. Embarazada vs. Embaraçada

Portuguese: “Embaraçada” means embarrassed or entangled.

Spanish: “Embarazada” means pregnant.

  1. Pasta vs. Pasta

Portuguese: “Pasta” means folder or briefcase.

Spanish: “Pasta” typically means pasta (the food) or dough.

  1. Gracioso vs. Gracioso

Portuguese: “Gracioso” means cute or graceful.

Spanish: “Gracioso” means funny or amusing.

  1. Esquisito vs. Exquisito

Portuguese: “Esquisito” means weird or strange.

Spanish: “Exquisito” means exquisite or delicious.

  1. Estofado vs. Estofado

Portuguese: “Estofado” means upholstered.

Spanish: “Estofado” means stew (the food).

See also:

Written by Adros Verse for EnglishClub.com
Adros Verse Education S.R.L. offers language learning resources, including books and flashcards, to help learners acquire new languages effectively by making the learning process fun and interactive.
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