Spanish Cognates: Easy Vocabulary for Beginners

By Andrea Cubillos

Reading time: 0 minute

November 07, 2024

Contents

Learn Spanish Faster with Words You Already Know

What Are Spanish Cognates?

Why Cognates Help You Learn Spanish

Common Spanish Cognates List: Words That Look the Same

Spanish Cognates by Category

Be Careful: False Cognates (They Trick You!)

How to Learn Spanish by Reading Cognates

Learning Strategies: How to Use Cognates the Smart Way

Vocabulary Building Through Reading

Quick Practice: Spot the Cognates

Benefits of Learning Cognates

Best Books to Learn Spanish with Cognates

Final Thoughts: Use Cognates to Boost Your Spanish

Learn Spanish Faster with Words You Already Know

Learning Spanish can feel tough at first. But did you know there are Spanish words similar to English that you already understand? These are called Spanish cognates. They look and sound like English words—and they mean the same thing!

Using Spanish cognates for English speakers is one of the smartest ways to build your vocabulary fast. You’ll be surprised how many easy Spanish vocabulary words you already know without even studying them.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

What Spanish cognates are
Give you a Spanish English cognates list
Show you some false cognates to avoid
Share tips for vocabulary building and learning Spanish through reading

Let’s dive in and make learning Spanish simpler and more fun!

What Are Spanish Cognates?

Cognates are words in two languages that look similar, sound similar, and mean the same thing. For example:

English: Animal
Spanish: Animal

These are cognate examples. Many of them come from Latin, which is why they exist in both English and Spanish.

Using Spanish cognates helps you:

Learn new words faster
Understand texts more easily
Improve your reading comprehension
Feel more confident as a beginner

That’s why they’re great for Spanish reading practice for beginners.

Why Cognates Help You Learn Spanish

Using cognates is like having a head start. Instead of learning completely new words, you just learn how to say and spell the ones you already know in Spanish. This helps with:

Vocabulary building
Contextual learning (seeing words used in real-life examples)
Feeling less overwhelmed

It’s also a great way to learn Spanish by reading. When you spot familiar words in a sentence, it’s easier to guess what the rest of the sentence means.

Common Spanish Cognates List: Words That Look the Same

Here are some easy Spanish words for beginners. These are perfect for your first vocabulary list:

Actor: Just like in English, this word means someone who acts in plays or movies.

Animal: Spelled the same in both languages and means the same thing.

Color: An easy one! Color in English is color in Spanish too.

Doctor: No change here. Both mean a medical professional.

Idea: Whether in English or Spanish, idea is the same great thought.

Hospital: The spelling is almost identical, and it means the same place where people go to get better.

Restaurant becomes restaurante in Spanish. Pretty close!

Natural: The word stays the same in both languages.

Music is música in Spanish. Just a small accent change.

Telephone in English is teléfono in Spanish. Notice the familiar structure.

See how similar they are? If you know the English word, it’s easier to remember the Spanish one.

These are Spanish cognates that are great for reading to learn Spanish.

Spanish Cognates by Category

Professions

Artist → Artista
Scientist → Científico
Dentist → Dentista

Feelings & Traits

Honest → Honesto
Intelligent → Inteligente
Patient → Paciente

School & Learning

Biology → Biología
History → Historia
University → Universidad

Using similar words helps beginners read better and speak with more confidence.

Be Careful: False Cognates (They Trick You!)

Not all words that look alike mean the same thing. These are called false cognates or "false friends." They can confuse you if you're not careful.

Here are some examples to remember:

Embarazada might look like “embarrassed,” but it actually means pregnant in Spanish.

Ropa seems like it means “rope,” but it really means clothes.

Sopa sounds like “soap,” but it’s actually soup.

Éxito looks like “exit,” but it means success.

Constipado might remind you of “constipated,” but it actually means you have a cold.

Watch out for these! They’re common mistakes. Learning the difference helps your Spanish vocabulary grow correctly.

How to Learn Spanish by Reading Cognates

Using easy Spanish books for learners filled with cognates is a great idea. This helps with extensive reading, where you read a lot to absorb the language naturally.

Here are some beginner books for Spanish reading practice for beginners:

📘 Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners, by Olly Richards

Each story uses easy vocabulary, helpful summaries, and a glossary.

📗 Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Vocabulary, by Dorothy Richmond

Helps you practice Spanish cognates and other vocabulary with simple explanations and exercises.

📙 Easy Spanish Step-by-Step, by Barbara Bregstein

This guide explains grammar and shows you how to use cognates in sentences. It's one of the best books to learn Spanish for beginners.

Reading books like these is a smart way to improve Spanish through reading.

Learning Strategies: How to Use Cognates the Smart Way

Here are some tips to help you make the most of Spanish cognates:

1. Make a Spanish Cognates List

Keep a notebook or digital file of every new cognate you learn. Group them into topics (like food, travel, school). This helps with vocabulary building.

2. Use Flashcards

Create flashcards with a Spanish word on one side and the English word on the other. Use apps like Quizlet for this. Focus on both common Spanish cognates and false cognates.

3. Read Easy Spanish Books

Choose books designed for beginners. Look for Spanish novels for beginners to practice reading. Highlight or underline every cognate you recognize.

4. Practice Sentences

Use each cognate in a sentence. For example:

Mi familia es muy importante para mí.
("My family is very important to me.")

5. Listen to Spanish Songs or Podcasts

Try to hear cognates being used in real conversations. This strengthens your listening and pronunciation skills and helps you remember how the word is used in contextual learning.

Vocabulary Building Through Reading

If you want to learn Spanish by reading, focus on the words you already understand—then slowly build on that.

Start with simple texts. Use dual-language books (Spanish and English side by side). Highlight Spanish words similar to English and guess their meaning before checking the dictionary.

Soon, you’ll start seeing patterns:

Words ending in -tion in English often become -ción in Spanish:
Nation → Nación
Information → Información

This is one of the easiest ways to grow your Spanish vocabulary fast!

Quick Practice: Spot the Cognates

Try to guess what these Spanish words mean:

Animal
Universidad
Restaurante
Teléfono
Inteligente
Importante
Médico
Estudiante

All of them are Spanish cognates! This is why they’re great for Spanish cognates for English speakers to start learning.

Benefits of Learning Cognates

Let’s recap why Spanish cognates are so helpful:

They give you a vocabulary head start
They’re perfect for easy Spanish books for learners
You can use them in Spanish reading practice for beginners
They help with reading comprehension and contextual learning
You can spot and use them in conversations and writing

Best Books to Learn Spanish with Cognates

Here’s a list of the best books to learn Spanish for beginners that include lots of cognates:

All these are excellent if you're wondering how to learn Spanish by reading books.

Final Thoughts: Use Cognates to Boost Your Spanish

Learning Spanish doesn’t have to start from zero. Thanks to Spanish cognates, you already know hundreds of Spanish words!

Use this to your advantage:

Focus on easy Spanish words for beginners
Watch out for false cognates
Practice reading with books, songs, and short stories
Build your own Spanish English cognates list

Want more help? Platforms like Comligo can guide you through step-by-step lessons and reading plans using cognates and other proven methods.

✅ Your Next Step

Start building your vocabulary now! Choose a book from our list, or download a beginner’s guide from Comligo. Track your cognates, make flashcards, and read every day—even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

Learning Spanish with cognates is one of the smartest shortcuts to fluency!

Andrea Cubillos

Academic Team

Andrea Cubillos is a seasoned Spanish teacher from Bogotá, Colombia, with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in both Spanish as a native and foreign language. Currently teaching in Medellín, Andrea combines her love for literature, art, and baking to create inspiring, creative learning experiences for her students.