Spanish Words That Are the Same in English
Did you know that there are hundreds of words in Spanish that are spelled exactly the same as in English? These perfect cognates are your fastest route to expanding your Spanish vocabulary, as you already know both their spelling and meaning!
Why Perfect Cognates Are Important
Perfect cognates (words spelled identically in both languages) offer several advantages:
- Zero memorization needed for spelling
- Instant vocabulary expansion
- Higher confidence in writing Spanish
- Easier recognition in reading
- Perfect for academic and professional contexts
Medical and Scientific Terms
hospital
El hospital central - The central hospital
dental
Clínica dental - Dental clinic
fatal
Un error fatal - A fatal error
viral
Infección viral - Viral infection
animal
Un animal salvaje - A wild animal
Want to learn more Spanish words? Try our Word Generator for daily practice with pronunciation guides and example sentences!
Try the Word GeneratorProfessional and Academic Terms
professor
El profesor de español - The Spanish professor
doctor
El doctor está ocupado - The doctor is busy
director
El director del proyecto - The project director
actor
Un actor famoso - A famous actor
editor
El editor del libro - The book editor
Technology Terms
radio
Escuchar la radio - Listen to the radio
video
Un video interesante - An interesting video
digital
Formato digital - Digital format
solar
Energía solar - Solar energy
motor
El motor del coche - The car's motor
Common Adjectives
familiar
Una cara familiar - A familiar face
ideal
La solución ideal - The ideal solution
normal
Es normal - It's normal
original
Una idea original - An original idea
personal
Opinión personal - Personal opinion
Cultural and Social Terms
festival
El festival de música - The music festival
cultural
Evento cultural - Cultural event
social
Red social - Social network
musical
Teatro musical - Musical theater
moral
Un dilema moral - A moral dilemma
Important Notes About Pronunciation
While these words are spelled the same in both languages, their pronunciation often differs. Key differences include:
- Spanish 'r' is rolled (radio, director)
- Spanish vowels are shorter and crisper
- Stress patterns may differ
- Spanish 'h' is silent (hospital)
- Spanish 'v' sounds more like 'b' (viral)
Common Word Endings
Many perfect cognates share these endings:
- -al (normal, fatal, digital)
- -or (doctor, director, motor)
- -ible (possible, terrible)
- -able (probable, notable)
- -ent (excellent, evident)
Using Perfect Cognates in Context
Perfect cognates are especially useful in:
- Academic writing and presentations
- Professional communications
- Technical documentation
- Medical contexts
- Scientific discussions
- International business
Remember that while these words are spelled identically, they should be pronounced following Spanish pronunciation rules. Practice with our audio guides to perfect your pronunciation while taking advantage of these easy-to-learn vocabulary words.
Perfect cognates provide an excellent foundation for building your Spanish vocabulary, especially in professional and academic contexts. They allow you to communicate effectively in Spanish using words you already know, boosting your confidence and helping you express more complex ideas from the start.
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