One of the best things about learning Spanish from English is that there are hundreds of words you already know.
As an English speaker, you have a huge advantage in learning Spanish compared to say a person trying to learn Spanish with a native language from a country such as Japan or China. You have the advantage of the same alphabet and a mile-long list of cognates. What this means is you effectively start learning Spanish with a vocabulary of almost 1000 words without even trying.
When you find words that are the same in both languages they are referred to as English-Spanish cognates.
The proper definition of cognate is reserved for words that exist in two different languages and have the same root or origin. Since Spanish and English both have Latin roots there are heaps of words that are the same or very close in both languages.
In this article, I’m going to provide a list of perfect cognates and near-perfect cognates for Spanish and English.
There are way more English-Spanish cognates than what I have provided in this article but the cognates that I have focused on are the more useful due to their frequency and practicality in both languages.
I suggest you read through the full list once over and then when you have a good feel for the patterns that start to emerge with the cognates, start to put them in a few Spanish sentences to get a feel for how they sound.
Obviously, they aren’t pronounced the same as in English but once you have the rules down for Spanish pronunciation you are free to communicate away.
Cognates Definition
In this article, I have defined perfect cognates as words that are spelt exactly the same in Spanish and English except for maybe an accent over one letter and they mean the same thing in both languages.
I have defined near perfect cognates as words that have up to 3 letters different. But you will be able to see that there are certain patterns that form with near perfect cognates that allow you to potentially predict when a near cognate is likely to exist if, of course, you don’t have this list handy.
There is also a heap of false cognates or false friends, which will be a topic for another post but note here that they are words that are spelt the same or similar but mean completely different things. For example one of the most famous Spanish-English false friends is ‘embarazada’ which doesn’t mean ‘embarrassed’ it means ‘pregnant’.
Perfect Cognates
Here is the list of perfect English-Spanish cognates that I have selected for their practicality:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Actor | Actor |
| Admirable | Admirable |
| Agenda | Agenda |
| Alcohol | Alcohol |
| Altar | Altar |
| Animal | Animal |
| Area | Area |
| Artificial | Artificial |
| Auto | Auto |
| Balance | Balance |
| Bar | Bar |
| Base | Base |
| Brutal | Brutal |
| Cable | Cable |
| Canal | Canal |
| Cáncer | Cancer |
| Canon | Canon |
| Capital | Capital |
| Carbón | Carbon |
| Cartón | Carton |
| Central | Central |
| Cerebral | Cerebral |
| Cheque | Cheque |
| Chocolate | Chocolate |
| Circular | Circular |
| Civil | Civil |
| Club | Club |
| Collar | Collar |
| Colonial | Colonial |
| Coma | Coma |
| Combustión | Combustion |
| Conclusión | Conclusion |
| Conductor | Conductor |
| Confusión | Confusion |
| Considerable | Considerable |
| Control | Control |
| Cordial | Cordial |
| Criminal | Criminal |
| Crisis | Crisis |
| Cultural | Cultural |
| Debate | Debate |
| Decisión | Decision |
| Diagonal | Diagonal |
| Dimension | Dimension |
| Director | Director |
| Disco | Disco |
| División | Division |
| Doctor | Doctor |
| Drama | Drama |
| Editorial | Editorial |
| Electoral | Electoral |
| Elemental | Elemental |
| Enigma | Enigma |
| Error | Error |
| Exclusive | Exclusive |
| Excursion | Excursion |
| Experimental | Experimental |
| Explosión | Explosion |
| Expulsion | Expulsion |
| Extensión | Extension |
| Exterior | Exterior |
| Factor | Factor |
| Familiar | Familiar |
| Fatal | Fatal |
| Federal | Federal |
| Festival | Festival |
| Final | Final |
| Flexible | Flexible |
| Formal | Formal |
| Formula | Formula |
| Frontal | Frontal |
| Fundamental | Fundamental |
| Gala | Gala |
| Gas | Gas |
| General | General |
| Génesis | Genesis |
| Global | Global |
| Grave | Grave |
| Habitual | Habitual |
| Hobby | Hobby |
| Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Horror | Horror |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| Hotel | Hotel |
| Idea | Idea |
| Ideal | Ideal |
| Imperial | Imperial |
| Implacable | Implacable |
| Incursión | Incursion |
| Individual | Individual |
| Industrial | Industrial |
| Inevitable | Inevitable |
| Inferior | Inferior |
| Informal | Informal |
| Informative | Informative |
| Inseparable | Inseparable |
| Inspector | Inspector |
| Interminable | Interminable |
| Invasión | Invasion |
| Invisible | Invisible |
| Irregular | Irregular |
| Judicial | Judicial |
| Kilo | Kilo |
| Lateral | Lateral |
| Legal | Legal |
| Liberal | Liberal |
| Literal | Literal |
| Local | Local |
| Macho | Macho |
| Maestro | Maestro |
| Mango | Mango |
| Manía | Mania |
| Manual | Manual |
| Marginal | Marginal |
| Mate | Mate |
| Material | Material |
| Matrimonial | Matrimonial |
| Medieval | Medieval |
| Mediocre | Mediocre |
| Melon | Melon |
| Mental | Mental |
| Menú | Menu |
| Metal | Metal |
| Miserable | Miserable |
| Moral | Moral |
| Mortal | Mortal |
| Motel | Motel |
| Motor | Motor |
| Múltiple | Multiple |
| Municipal | Municipal |
| Musical | Musical |
| Natural | Natural |
| Noble | Noble |
| Normal | Normal |
| Nostalgia | Nostalgia |
| Ópera | Ópera |
| Oral | Oral |
| Oriental | Oriental |
| Original | Original |
| Panorama | Panorama |
| Particular | Particular |
| Pasta | Pasta |
| Pastor | Pastor |
| Patio | Patio |
| Patrón | Patron |
| Peculiar | Peculiar |
| Penal | Penal |
| Perfume | Perfume |
| Personal | Personal |
| Peseta | Peseta |
| Piano | Piano |
| Plaza | Plaza |
| Plural | Plural |
| Popular | Popular |
| Pretension | Pretension |
| Principal | Principal |
| Probable | Probable |
| Propaganda | Propaganda |
| Protector | Protector |
| Provincial | Provincial |
| Radical | Radical |
| Radio | Radio |
| Región | Region |
| Regional | Regional |
| Regular | Regular |
| Religión | Religion |
| Reunión | Reunion |
| Revision | Revision |
| Ritual | Ritual |
| Rural | Rural |
| Secular | Secular |
| Sentimental | Sentimental |
| Serial | Serial |
| Sexual | Sexual |
| Similar | Similar |
| Simple | Simple |
| Singular | Singular |
| Social | Social |
| Solar | Solar |
| Solo | Solo |
| Subversión | Subversion |
| Superficial | Superficial |
| Superior | Superior |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Televisión | Television |
| Terrible | Terrible |
| Terror | Terror |
| Total | Total |
| Transcendental | Transcendental |
| Triple | Triple |
| Tropical | Tropical |
| Unión | Unión |
| Universal | Universal |
| Usual | Usual |
| Verbal | Verbal |
| Versión | Version |
| Vertical | Vertical |
| Violín | Violin |
| Visible | Visible |
| Visual | Visual |
| Vital | Vital |
| Vulgar | Vulgar |
| Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Near Perfect Cognates
Here the near perfect cognates are divided into separate lists based on their behaviour:
The following near perfect cognates follow the rule for nouns ending ‘tion’ in English can be converted to Spanish by replacing with a ‘ción’.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Abstracción | Abstraction |
| Acción | Action |
| Acusación | Accusation |
| Adaptación | Adaptation |
| Admiración | Admiration |
| Aplicación | Application |
| Apreciación | Appreciation |
| Asociación | Association |
| Aspiración | Aspiration |
| Atención | Attention |
| Atracción | Attraction |
| Autorización | Authorization |
| Celebración | Celebration |
| Circulación | Circulation |
| Civilización | Civilization |
| Clasificación | Classification |
| Colaboración | Collaboration |
| Colección | Collection |
| Combinación | Combination |
| Compensación | Compensation |
| Composición | Composition |
| Concentración | Concentration |
| Concepción | Conception |
| Condición | Condition |
| Conservación | Conservation |
| Consideración | Consideration |
| Constitución | Constitution |
| Construcción | Construction |
| Exposición | Exposition |
| Ficción | Fiction |
| Formación | Formation |
| Nación | Nation |
| Simplificación | Simplification |
The following near perfect cognates follow the rule for English nouns ending ‘ary’ can be converted to Spanish by replacing with a ‘ario’.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Adversario | Adversary |
| Aniversario | Anniversary |
| Arbitrario | Arbitrary |
| Comentario | Commentary |
| Complementario | Complementary |
| Contrario | Contrary |
| Diario | Diary |
| Glossario | Glossary |
| Estuario | Estuary |
| Primario | Primary |
| Rosario | Rosary |
| Salario | Salary |
| Secretario | Secretary |
| Solitario | Solitary |
| Vocabulario | Vocabulary |
| Temporario | Temporary |
The following near perfect cognates follow the rule for English adjectives ending ‘ic’ can be converted to Spanish by replacing with a ‘ico’.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Académico | Academic |
| Alcohólico | Alcoholic |
| Artístico | Artistic |
| Auténtico | Authentic |
| Automático | Automatic |
| Básico | Basic |
| Característico | Characteristic |
| Clásico | Classic |
| Cómico | Comic |
| Democrático | Democratic |
| Dinámico | Dynamic |
| Diplomático | Diplomatic |
| Doméstico | Domestic |
| Dramático | Dramatic |
| Económico | Economic |
| Electrónico | Electronic |
| Erótico | Erotic |
| Exótico | Exotic |
| Fantástico | Fantastic |
| Genérico | Generic |
| Genético | Genetic |
| Geométrico | Geometric |
| Heroico | Heroic |
| Irónico | Ironic |
| Mágico | Magic |
| Médico | Medic |
| Mosaico | Mosaic |
| Orgánico | Organic |
| Pánico | Panic |
| Plástico | Plastic |
| Poético | Poetic |
| Público | Public |
| Romántico | Romantic |
| Sistemático | Systematic |
| Trágico | Tragic |
The following near perfect cognates follow the rule for English adjectives ending ‘ous’ can be converted to Spanish by replacing with a ‘oso’.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Curioso | Curious |
| Delicioso | Delicious |
| Glorioso | Glorious |
| Misterioso | Mysterious |
| Numeroso | Numerous |
| Precioso | Precious |
| Religioso | Religious |
| Tedioso | Tedious |
The following near perfect cognates follow the rule for nouns ending ‘ct’ in English can be converted to Spanish by replacing with a ‘cto’.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Abstracto | Abstract |
| Acto | Act |
| Artefacto | Artefact |
| Compacto | Compact |
| Conflicto | Conflict |
| Contacto | Contact |
| Correcto | Correct |
| Exacto | Exact |
| Excepto | Except |
| Insecto | Insect |
| Perfecto | Perfect |
| Producto | Product |
There you have it, not all, but a good summary of the most useful English-Spanish cognates.
If you enjoyed this post then make sure you check out the Spanish Conversation Hacking Guide, in there you will find the 1000 most useful Spanish words based on frequency use in the Spanish language (and that aren’t cognates!).
What have I missed? Can you think of any others?
Dude this is awesome!!! Thank you so much for this article its definitly going to help me when I teach nicaraguans english! I really like the perfect cognates, it makes things very easy.
No worries, I’m glad I could help. Thank you for the kind words. Best of luck teaching in Nicaragua – that sounds so cool!
Love it. I’m going to make a cognate-related video teachers can use as a classroom tool. Would anyone be interested in having the link? Thanks again!
Hey Michael, glad you enjoyed it, and it hope it helps if you are using it as a teaching tool.
Yes, I would! Thank you!
Yes, could you send it to me. That would be great.
I find it very useful for my classroom! 4th grade bilingual, thank you.
Hello Andrew,
I would like to quote your defintion of cognates, as well as your list. Can you please give me more infpormation on this article? Where was it published? Name of magazine/joural? Date? I am writing a children’s book of cognates and would like to creedit you, if you so allow.
Much thanks,
DMoon
Hi DM, this post has only been published here, I haven’t published it in a magazine or journal. You are welcome to quote the article in your children’s book, please let me know and share the book with me when it’s done.
Hello Andrew! I’m in the middle of a brainstorming and your article has been of great help.
I’m a spanish native speaker and I wasn’t aware of how many words are shared by spanish and english languages!
Of all of this words, there’s one that I stil have some doubts about. DIARIO and DAIRY. DIARIO for us means DAILY, while DAIRY, as far as I know, is referred to milk products, right?
Once again, thank you! It’s a great and extremely useful article!
¡Hola Rocío! ‘Daily’ and ‘dairy’ are so close, I can see how they would be confusing. And you’re right ‘diario’ looks so much like ‘dairy’. I think the best translation of ‘dairy products’ would be ‘productos lácteos’.
Thanks for your comment, I’m glad the article was useful.
DIARIO and DIARY are the cognates. DIARIO is daily, and DIARY is a daily journal.
diario can also be use for the book where you writte thoughts and feelings “journal”
hallo..hablo un poquito de espanol..I’m Nigerian and a student and i need to improve because there’s no native around here.
Thanks for your help in earnest
That was a great video. Thanks.
It seems that one finds even more Spanish-English cognates in academic and formal English. Academic English is descended from Latin while Formal English is descended from French. Spanish is one of the Romance languages; that is, descended from Latin: Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, & Romanian.
Careful with bridge, it’s the card game, not the structure (which is puente)
Hey there. Very nice article, although you should check your Spanish spelling. You missed a lot of accents on words like carbón, religión, etc.
I have been looking for a comprehensive list of ‘friends’ between Spanish and English. I am going to use this in my course!
Gracias GoneNative, I’m glad you found the list useful!
Se escriben igual pero se pronuncian diferente
Hola Gabriel, tienes razón. Espero que la lista te ayude.
How do you go about memorizing perfect cognates? Seems like a challenge since they’re the same spelling to input into a flashcard app.
mágico sería magical, no?
Here are some more, both perfect and imperfect cognates:
inexplicable, exculpated, inundated, and incorregible
Thanks for sharing Lissy!! 🙂
It’s the false cognates that get me the most. Estirar means to stretch and estrechar means to narrow or tighten. Asistir and atender are interwoven in counterintuitive ways, too. And I can never tell when to use ‘simple’ or ‘sencillo’ in Spanish. Can you help with that one? This stuff sure keeps the learning interesting. Thanks for this article! Just looking over the list every so often will help me remember lots of them!
It sounds like you have a handle on a number of the false cognates Robin! 🙂 “Simple” and “sencillo” aren’t necessarily false friends, there are a number of situations where they translate well between English and Spanish. You can think of “facil” as “easy”, “sencillo” as “straightforward” or “plain”, and “simple” as “basic”, and keep in mind that part of the problem is that “easy”, “straightforward” and “basic” can all be synonyms in English as well – so this problem also exists in English! Look out for situations where Spanish natives use these words in context, then take note of these contexts and try to commit them to memory.
Thanks for this! I have the same problem with distinto and diferente. I’ll keep my ears open for how others use them, too.
Excellent. This will really help my ESL students, especially the starters. I think you’ve covered most of them. Thanks a lot!
Thanks Jose! Yes, most of the main near-perfect cognates patterns are covered here.
Missing words?
me (myself)
banana (the yellow fruit)
I am only a beginner, so I may have got it wrong!
Hola Paul, there are lots of possible cognates that I have not included. I have selected a lot of useful words for this post that are good for students to practice with.
In some countries, they prefer to use “plátano” but it is possible to hear “banana” as well, it depends where you go in the Spanish-speaking world. In ceratin sentences such as “this interests me” then “me” can act like a cognate, but in sentences like “this plate is for me” we need to say “mí”, so we have to be careful.