ESL / Bilingual Program

School District U-46

Cognates
Cognate Endings
False Cognates
Prefixes
Suffixes

Cognates: words in different languages related to the same

root, e.g. education (English) and educacin (Spanish).

Aa

Bb

Cc

abandon - abandonar

balance - balance (n)

cabin-cabina

abdicate - abdicar

balance - balancear

cable - cable

abolish - abolir

band - banda

cafeteria-cafetera

abound - abundar

bandit - bandido

calculate - calcular

abrupt - abrupto

bank - banco

calendar - calendario

absolute - absoluto

banker - banquero

calm (v.) - calmar

absorb - absorber

bar - barra

calvary - calvario

abundance- abundancia

barber - barbero

camel - camello

abundant - abundante

barrel - barril

camera-cmara

abuse(n) abuso

bat - bate

camouflage-camuflaje

abuse(v) abusar

battle batalla

canyon-can

academy-academia

bicycle -bicicleta

canal - canal

accelerate-acelerar

biography- biografa

canary - canario

accent- acento

cancelable-cancelable

accentuate-acentuar

candidate - candidato

access - acceso

candor - candor

accessory-accesorio

capacity - capacidad

accident -accidente

cape - capa

Aa

Bb

Cc

accidental -accidental

capital - capital

allergic -alrgico

capricious - caprichoso

accompany -acompaar

captain-capitn

adult -adulto

capture-capturar

accord(n)-acuerdo

catastrophe-catstrofe

accuse-acusar

cause-causa

acquire - adquirir

celebrate -celebrar

act -acto

cement-cemento

active - activo

center-centro

actor- actor

ceramic-cermica

actress - actriz

cereal-cereal

actuary - actuario

ceremony-ceremonia

adapt- adaptar

chimney-chimenea

adhere-adherir

circle-crculo

adherent-adherente

class-clase

adjust- ajustar

coast-costa

administrate- administrar

colony-colonia

admire - admirar

color-color

Aa

Bb

Cc

admit - admitir

committee -comit

adolescence - adolescencia

common -comn

adopt-adoptar

commotion-conmocin

adore- adorar

company-compaa

African -africano

complete-completo

air -aire

concave-cncavo

association -asociacin

concert-concierto

autograph autgrafo
agent -agente
artist - artista
automobile - automvil
appetite - apetito
alarm - alarma
activities - actividades
adventure -aventura
area -rea
altar - altar
ambulance-ambulancia
angular - angular

conflict - conflicto
confusing-confuso
confusion-confusin
considerable-considerable
constellation-constelacin
construction-construccin
contact- contacto
contagious-contagioso
continent-continente
continue-continuar
contract - contrato

Aa

Bb

Cc

animal -animal

contribution-contribucin

announce -anunciar

convict- convicto

appear -aparecer

correct - correcto

atmosphere -atmsfera

coyote-coyote

antioxidant-antioxidante

crocodile-cocodrilo

arrogance- arrogancia

curable-curable

arrogant - arrogante

curious-curioso

aspirant-aspirante
assailant-asaltante
assistance-asistencia
associate (v)-asociar
assume-asumir
athlete-atleta
atrocity-atrocidad
attack(n)-ataque
attack(v)-atacar
attention -atencin
August- agosto
acrobatic- acrobtico

Aa

Bb

Cc

adopt-adoptar
attentive- atento
attitude-actitud
audacious-audaz
audience-audiencia
augment-aumentar

Dd

Ee

Ff

dance(n) - danza

eccentricity - excentricidad

fabricate - fabricar

dance(v) - danzar

echo - eco

fabulous - fabuloso

debate - debate

edict - edicto

facilitate - facilitar

debilitate - debilitar

edifice - edificio

facility - facilidad

debut - debut

effect - efecto

factor- factor

decadence - decadencia

effective - efectivo

faculty- facultad

decent - decente

efficacy - eficacia

false- falso

decide - decidir

elector - elector

falsity - falsedad

decisive - decisivo

electricity - electricidad

fame - fama

elegance - elegancia

family - familia

Dd

Ee

declare - declarar

elegant - elegante

famous - famoso

decline - declinar

element - elemento

fascinate - fascinar

decorate - decorar

emigrant - emigrante

fatality - fatalidad

decree - decreto

empire - imperio

fatigue - fatiga

dedicate - dedicar

enemy - enemigo

favorable - favorable

defect - defecto

enigma - enigma

defunct - difunto

envy - envidia

derelict - derelicto

episode - episodio

dialect - dialecto

error - error

direct - directo

essence - esencia

distinct- distinto

essential - esencial

district - distrito

establish - establecer
eternal - eterno
eternity - eternidad
evacuate - evacuar

Ff

Gg

Hh

Ii

gallant - galante

habitual - habitual

idea - idea

gallop - galope

hatchet - hacha

ideal - ideal

gardener - jardinero

harmonious - armonioso

identity - identidad

gas - gas

hemisphere - hemisferio

idiot - idiota

gasoline - gasolina

herb- hierba

ignorant - ignorante

general (adj.) -general

hereditary - hereditario

illuminate - iluminar

generosity - generosidad

historian - historiador

image - imagen

genteel - gentil

history - historia

imaginary - imaginario

genuine - genuino

honor - honor

imaginative - imaginativo

germ - germen

horizontal - horizontal

imagine - imaginar

gesture - gesto

horrendous - horrendo

immediate - inmediato

giant - gigante

horrible - horrible

immediately -inmediatamente

glacial - glacial

horror - horror

immense - inmenso

globe - globo

hospitality - hospitalidad

immortal - inmortal

glorious - glorioso

hostile - hostil

impartial - imparcial

glory - gloria

imperfect - imperfecto

golf - golf

imperial - imperial

gradual - gradual

importance - importancia
impossible - imposible

Hh

Gg

Ii

gratitude - gratitud
grotesque - grotesco

Jj
jar - jarra

Kk
kilogram - kilogramo

Ll
labor (n) - labor

jargon - jerga

labor (v) - laborar

judicial - judicial

laboratory - laboratorio

judiciary - judiciario

laborious - laborioso

just - justo

lament - lamentar

justice - justicia

latitude - latitud

justify - justificar

legal - legal
legislator - legislador
legumes - legumbres
liberal - liberal
liberty - libertad
limit - lmite

Ll

Kk

Jj

line - lnea
liquidate - liquidar
liquor - licor
list - lista
locality localidad

Mm

Nn

Oo

magistrate- magistrado

narrate - narrar

oasis - oasis

magnitude - magnitud

natal - natal

obedience-obediencia

majesty - majestad

national - nacional

obedient-obediente

malice - malicia

nationality-nacionalidad

object -objeto

malignant - maligno

native - nativo

objective-objetivo

mandate - mandato

natural - natural

oblige-obligar

manner - manera

naturally-naturalmente

obscure - obscuro

manual - manual

naval-naval

observe- observar

manuscript - manuscrito

navigable -navegable

obstruct - obstruir

map - mapa

necessary - necesario

obtain - obtener

Mm

Nn

Oo

march(v) - marchar

necessitate - necesitar

occur - ocurrir

margin - margen

necessity- necesidad

odious - odioso

marine - marino

negative - negativo

offend- offender

mark(n)- marca

nerve- nervio

offensive -ofensivo

mark(v) - marcar

neutral - neutro

marvel - maravilla

noble (adj) noble

marvelous-marvilloso

normal- normal

matrimony - matrimonio
medal - medalla
mediate - mediar

Pp

Qq

Rr

pacific - pacfico

quarter - cuarto

race(n)- raza

pact - pacto

quiet - quieto

radiant - radiante

palace - palacio

radiator - radiador

palm - palma

radical - radical

passive - pasivo

ranch- rancho

past - pasado

rapidity-rapidez
rare - raro

Qq

Pp

Rr

paste - pasta

ray- rayo

pastor - pastor

realist- realista

paternal - paterno

reality- realidad

patience - paciencia

reason(v)-razonar

patio - patio

reasonable- razonable

patriarch - patriarca

rebel- rebelde

pause - pausa

receive- recibir
recently-recientemente
recite-recitar
reference-referencia
refine-refinar
reflect-reflejar

Ss

Tt

Uu

salad- ensalada

tact- tacto

ulterior - ulterior

salary-salario

talent - talento

ultimate - ltimo

sanctity- santidad

tardy - tardo

united - unido

sane- sano

tariff - tarifa

unity - unidad

Ss

Tt

scene- escena

telescope- telescopio

universal - universal

second- segundo

temperature- temperatura

unjust - injusto

secret(n) - secreto

temple-templo

unstable- instable

secretly - secretamente

temporary- temporal

urban- urbano

sect -secta

terminate - terminar

urgency - urgencia

secular - secular

terrace- terraza

urgent- urgente

security - seguridad

terrible - terrible

use (v)- usar

seduce- seducir

theme - tema

utility - utilidad

senate - senado

theology- teologa

utilize - utilizar

sensual - sensual

thesis - tesis

serene- sereno

timidity- timidez
tint- tinte
tobacco- tabaco
tolerance- tolerancia
tone - tono
tourist- turista
traditional - tradicional
tragedy-tragedia
train tren

Uu

Vv
vacant - vacante
vacation - vacaciones
vacillate- vacilar
vague - vago
valor - valor
vanity - vanidad
vary - variar
vast - vasto
vehicle - vehculo
vein - vena
velocity - velocidad
verb - verbo
victory-victoria
violence-violencia
violent- violento
virgin- virgen

-ace

-al

stays

-al

-ic/-ics

-ine

-acio

becomes

becomes-ica

-ina

becomes

palace

preface

palacio

prefacio

canal

coral

final

metal

pedal

canal

coral

final

metal

pedal

electronics

logic

music

physics

rhetoric

electrnica

lgica

msica

fsica

retrica

discipline

doctrine

heroine

margarine

morphine

disciplina

doctrina

herona

margarina

morfina

marxism

paganism

Cognate Endings

communism

-ism

-ity

becomes

becomes

-m/-ma

-ismo

-idad

becomes

-ma

-ology becomes ologa

-sion

becomes-sin

-tion

becomes

-ure

-y

-cin

becomes-ura

becomes

-a

socialism

comunismo socialismo marxismo paganismo

curiosity

electricity

nationality

university

velocity

curiosidad electricidad nacionalidad universidad velocidad

dogma

drama

enigma

program

victim

dogma

drama

enigma

programa

vctima

archaeology

biology

psychology

urology

zoology

arqueologa

biologa

psicologa

urologa

zoologa

impression

mission

aggression

agresin
action

accin

depression

expression

depresin expresin impresin

dedication

evolution

instruction

dedicacin evolucin instruccin

misin
nation

nacin

agriculture

cure

figure

literature

miniature

agricultura

cura

figura

literatura

miniatura

anatomy

artillery

energy

geography

philosophy

anatoma

artillera

energa

geografa

filosofa

LIST OF FALSE COGNATES

WORD

MEANING

WORD

MEANING

actual

real

advertise

actually
ancient
assist
attend
basement
billion

realmente
antiguo
atender
asistir (a un evento)
Stano
USA: mil millones // Britain: milln de
milln
Lmite, frontera
universidad, inst. de edu. superior
mercanca, artculo, producto,
mercadera
Actualmente
cliente
Engaoso
a pesar de, no obstante
apenado, avergonzado
Salida
tela, tejido
instalaciones
cog. verdadero: dibujo / cog falso:
nmero
periodista
grande

advice
advise
agreement
allocate
balloon
black

anunciar, hacer
publicidad
consejo
aconsejar, recomendar
acuerdo
distribuir
globo
negro

borrow
called
century

tomar en prstamo
llam (pasado de call)
siglo

come
conversely
crime
currency
date
disgrace
expenses
expensive
floor

venir
a la inversa
delito
moneda (de un pas)
fecha
vergenza
gastos
caro
piso

for instance
great

cog. verdadero: letra / cog. falso:

carta
importante, principal
una vez

introduce

por ejemplo
cog. verdadero:
grande / cog. falso:
maravilloso
presentar

Paso, ritmo
sartn
patrn, diseo
mdico
polticas
realizar o darse cuenta
pariente
renunciar
lazo, cuerda
Varios
xito
salida del sol
vaco, neumtico, aspiradora
limpiar con aspiradora

lecture
library
murder
parents
relieve
remain
sales
soul
terrific
trait
translation
tree

border
college
commodities
currently
customer
deceptive
despite
embarrassed
exit
fabric
facilities
figure
journalist
large
letter
major
once
pace
pan
pattern
physician
policies
realize
relative
resign
rope
several
success
sunrise
vacuum

involve
journal

involucrar
peridico, diario,
revista, boletn
conferencia, ponencia
biblioteca
asesinato
padres
liberar, aliviar
permanecer
ventas
alma
estupendo
caracterstica
traduccin
rbol

PREFIXES
Prefixes change the meaning of a word. The list provided below is organized according to an a
of meaning because most often there is no one single (unique) specific meaning.
PREFIXES OF SIZE
PREFIXES OF LOCATION/DIRECTION
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
semihalf, partly
semiconductor
interbetween,
interactive
equiequal
equidistant
among
extrabeyond,
extraordinary
intra
within
intrastate
out-side
hypersensitive;
par/ para
near, similar parallel
hyper
excessive
hypermarket
parastatal
tel
far away, at telescope,
maxibig
maxicomputer
a distance
television
microsmall
microchip
transover; across transnational
minilittle
minicomputer
near
macrobig
macroeconomics
subunder
subway;
megabig
megabyte
subtitle
over
too much
overpopulated;
overworked
re
again
rewrite, reread
super
over,above, supersede;
supermarket
excessive

Prefix
semimonobitriquadpentahexdecmulti-

PREFIXES OF NUMBERS
Meaning
Examples
half
semicircle
one
monolingual
two
bilateral
three
triangle
four
quadruple
five
pentagon
six
hexagonal
ten
decimal
many
multinational

PREFIXES OF TIME AND ORDER

Prefix
Meaning
Examples
antebefore
antecedent
ex
former
exwife; ex
president
prebefore
prehearing
primefirst
primitive
postafter
postgraduate
postwar
retrobackward
retroactive

PREFIXES WITH NEGATIVE MEANING

Prefix
Meaning
Examples
unnot
unable
in
incomplete
im
impossible
non
non-existent
il
illegal
ir
irresponsible
misbad, wrong
misunderstand
disagree
disopposite
antiterrorism
antiagainst
decrease
dereduce
underestimate
undertoo little

SUFFIXES
A SUFFIX COMES AT THE END OF A WORD. IT ALSO ADDS TO THE MEANING. HOWEVER, THE MEANING OF
THE SUFFIX IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO DEFINE. A SUFFIX USUALLY DEFINES A PART OF SPEECH.
EXAMPLE:

separate

(verb and adjective)

separately

(adverb)

separation

(noun)

Here are some common meanings of suffixes. (* also used for another part of speech)
SUFFIX
-able, -ible
-ful
-less
-er*, -or, -ian, -ist, yst
-er*, -or,
-er / -ee

MEANING
possible, able to be done
full of
without
person engaged in an
occupation
also: machine, software
-er: gives; -ee: receives

-ess

female person

EXAMPLES
acceptable, comprehensible, transportable
useful, successful, meaningful
useless, meaningless
engineer, professor; competitor; scientist,
analyst, librarian
computer, (oracle) developer, generator
employer; employee
trainer; trainee
interviewer; interviewee
(air) hostess

Here are some common suffixes grouped in parts of speech. (* also used for another part of speech)
NOUNS
-ance, -ence
-ant*
-ary*
-Iy*
-dom
-ism
-ity
-ive*
-ment
-ness
- (a)tion
-ship
-ure
ADJECTIVES
-ant*, -ent
-al
-ary*
-ate*
-er*
-est
-ic
-ical
-ive*
-ory
VERBS
-ate*
-ise, -ize, -yse, -yze
-y*
ADVERBS OF MANNER
-ly

EXAMPLES
appearance, difference
accountant
secretary
economy, frequency
freedom, wisdom
communism, racism
quality, community
executive
government, statement, requirement, assignment, employment
consciousness, competitiveness
satisfaction, globalization, competition
leadership
manufacture, failure
EXAMPLES
important, different, excellent, independent
national, natural, original
Monetary, temporary
separate, immediate
(comparative) bigger, fewer, faster
(superlative) biggest, fewest, fastest
economic, basic, specific, characteristic
economical, logical
excessive, creative, attractive
satisfactory, introductory
separate, congratulate
economize, analyze, mechanize
satisfy, specify
excessively, creatively

The present participle (-ing) can be used in verbs, as adjectives and nouns
The past participle (-ed) can be used in verbs and as adjectives

References:
Adapted from Spanish Lessons: Introduction to Cognates
http://www.rcaguilar.com/spanish/intro/intro-cognates.htm
Adapted from Universidad De San Buenaventura California
http://www.usb.edu.co/facultades/derecho/profesores/ingles_reference_material.doc