Spanish Phrases

A Guide to Pronunciation
The Spanish You Already Know
Nouns and Articles

The Spanish You Already Know by Cari Luna

Now that you've gotten a quick introduction to Spanish pronunciation, it's time to go on to Spanish vocabulary. Fortunately, you already know more Spanish than you probably realize, because English and Spanish share many cognates — words that share a similar meaning and spelling because they originated from the same word. Study the cognates provided here, and you'll have a head start on building a strong Spanish vocabulary.

Cognates <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Spanish</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>English</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>actor</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>actor</emphasis></p> <p>ahk-TOHR</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>animal</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>animal</emphasis></p> <p>ah-nee-MAHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>apart</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>aparte</emphasis></p> <p>ah-PAHR-teh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>appreciation</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>apreciación</emphasis></p> <p>ah-preh-see-ah-see-OHN</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>banana</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>banana</emphasis></p> <p>bah-NAH-nah</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>biography</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>biografía</emphasis></p> <p>bee-oh-grah-FEE-ah</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>color</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>color</emphasis></p> <p>koh-LOHR</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>comfortable</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>confortable</emphasis></p> <p>kohn-fohr-TAH-bleh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>cruel</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>cruel</emphasis></p> <p>kroo-EHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>dictionary</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>diccionario</emphasis></p> <p>deek-see-ohn-AH-ree-oh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>family</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>familia</emphasis></p> <p>fah-MEE-lee-ah</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>grave (serious)</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>grave</emphasis></p> <p>GRAH-veh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>horrible</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>horrible</emphasis></p> <p>oh-RREE-bleh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>hospital</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>hospital</emphasis></p> <p>hohs-pee-TAHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>hotel</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>hotel</emphasis></p> <p>oh-TEHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>music</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>música</emphasis></p> <p>MOO-see-kah</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>natural</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>natural</emphasis></p> <p>nah-too-RAHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>opinion</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>opinión</emphasis></p> <p>oh-pee-NYOHN</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>origin</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>origen</emphasis></p> <p>oh-REE-hen</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>park (noun)</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>parque</emphasis></p> <p>PAHR-keh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>possible</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>posible</emphasis></p> <p>poh-SEE-bleh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>radio</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>radio</emphasis></p> <p>RAH-dee-oh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>resist</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>resistir</emphasis></p> <p>reh-sees-TEER</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>restaurant</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>restaurante</emphasis></p> <p>rehs-taoo-RAHN-teh</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>revision</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>revisión</emphasis></p> <p>reh-vee-see-OHN</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>revolution</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>revolución</emphasis></p> <p>reh-voh-loo-see-OHN</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>ritual</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>ritual</emphasis></p> <p>ree-too-AHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>tropical</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>tropical</emphasis></p> <p>troh-pee-KAHL</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>university</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>universidad</emphasis></p> <p>oo-nee-vehr-see-DAHD</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>Beware the False Friend!</h2> <p>Don't assume a word is a cognate just because it sounds like an English word you know. Some words <emphasis>look</emphasis> and <emphasis>sound</emphasis> like they should be cognates, but they aren't — they actually mean two different things in two different languages. Misuse some of these false cognates, and the results could be rather embarrassing.</p> <bridgehead>Common False Cognates</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>actual</emphasis></p> <p>ahk-too-AHL</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>current</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>asistir</emphasis></p> <p>ah-sees-TEEHR</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>to attend</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>atender</emphasis></p> <p>ah-tehn-DEHR</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>to serve</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>compromiso</emphasis></p> <p>kohm-proh-MEE-soh</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>commitment</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>decepción</emphasis></p> <p>deh-sehp-see-OHN</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>disappointment</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>embarazada</emphasis></p> <p>ehm-bah-rah-SAH-dah</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>pregnant</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>éxito</emphasis></p> <p>EHK-see-toh</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>success</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>largo</emphasis></p> <p>LAHR-goh</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>long</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>molestar</emphasis></p> <p>moh-lehs-TAHR</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>to bother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>pretender</emphasis></p> <p>preh-tehn-DEHR</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>to try</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>recordar</emphasis></p> <p>reh-kohr-DAHR</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>to remember</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>ropa</emphasis></p> <p>ROH-pah</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>clothing</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>sano</emphasis></p> <p>SAH-noh</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>healthy</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>simpático</emphasis></p> <p>seem-PAH-tee-koh</p></td> <entry valign="top"><p>nice</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>Now that you've gotten a bit of pronunciation practice and started to build a bit of vocabulary, the next step is a quick introduction to Spanish grammar.</p>  <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/a-guide-to-pronunciation.htm" title="A Guide to Pronunciation">A Guide to Pronunciation</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/nouns-and-articles.htm" title="Nouns and Articles">Nouns and Articles</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/the-spanish-you-already-know.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> The Spanish You Already Know - Spanish Phrases </a></li> <li><a href="http://spanish.about.com/cs/vocabulary/g/cognategloss.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Definition of 'Cognate' - Grammar Glossary for Spanish and Eng... </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/index_4.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French Language, - Articles </a></li> <li><a href="http://spanish.about.com/cs/writing/a/spanengspell.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Differences in Spanish and English Spelling - Learn Spanish Language </a></li> <li><a href="http://spanish.about.com/cs/vocabulary/a/partcognates.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Fickle Friends - Tricky Spanish Vocabulary </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Pronunciation and Grammar</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/a-guide-to-pronunciation.htm">A Guide to Pronunciation</a></li> <li class="btO">The Spanish You Already Know</li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/nouns-and-articles.htm">Nouns and Articles</a></li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/from-noun-to-pronoun.htm">From Noun to Pronoun</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/verbs-and-conjugation.htm">Verbs and Conjugation</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/the-top-ten-spanish-phrases-you-should-know.htm">The Top 10 Spanish Phrases to Know</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/spanish-phrases/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">THE EVERYTHING SPANISH PHRASE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">By Cari Luna</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">Spanish Phrases Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/">Pronunciation and Grammar</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/introduce-yourself/">Introduce Yourself</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/a-day-at-a-time/">A Day at a Time</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/in-transit/">In Transit</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/at-the-hotel/">At the Hotel</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/on-the-move/">On the Move</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/dining-options/">Dining Options</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/shop-till-you-drop/">Shop Till You Drop</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/out-on-the-town/">Out on the Town</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/spanish-for-business/">Spanish for Business</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/visiting-a-doctor/">Visiting a Doctor</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/the-local-community/">The Local Community</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/spanish-at-home/">Spanish at Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/idioms-sayings-and-slang/">Idioms, Sayings, and Slang</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/appendix-a-essential-words-and-phrases/">Essential Spanish Words and Phrases</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/appendix-b-spanish-to-english-dictionary/">Spanish to English Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/appendix-c-english-to-spanish-dictionary/">English to Spanish Dictionary</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/">Spanish Phrases</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/">Pronunciation and Grammar</a></li><li>The Spanish You Already Know</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" rel="nofollow">ConsumerSearch</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"><p>Netplaces.com, a part of <a href="http://www.nytco.com/">The New York Times Company</a>.</p><p>All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>