Cognates

Beginning language students can learn new and easy Italian vocabulary fast by becoming aware of the many English/Italian look-alike words, also known as cognates. A cognate is a word that can be found in two or more different languages with similar, though not always exact, spellings and the same meaning. These look-alike words have the same root or origin. Learning to recognize the many Italian/English cognates can help Italian language students increase vocabulary quickly. A note of caution: even though an Italian word may look similar to its English counterpart, it might not sound the same. Be sure to review Italian pronunciations or listen to an Italian speaker pronounce the words. The following Italian/English cognates are grouped into categories to put them into useful contexts.

People and Animal Cognates
 //il bambino //– baby ……. //la famiglia //– family …….//il medico //– medic/doctor …….// il / la dentista //– dentist ……. //il paziente // – the patient …….// la polizia //– police ……. //la turista //– tourist ……. //l’artista //– artist. . . . . . . //il professore // - professor/teacher. . . . . . . //l'autore //- author. . . . . . . l'attore - actor. . . . . . . //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la nazione //- nation

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’ elefante //– elephant …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la ////<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">tigre //– tiger ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il leone //– lion …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il leopardo //– leopard ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il gorilla //– gorilla ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la giraffa // – giraffe …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la panda // – panda ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il ippopotamo //– hippopotamus …….. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il cammello //– camel …….. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il canguro // – kangaroo ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il pinguino //– penguin …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il delfíno //– dolphin …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il dinosauro //- dinosaur

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Clothing, Musical Instruments, and Other Useful Items Cognates
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">i sandali – sandals ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il pigiama //– pajama ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">i pantaloni //– pants …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> i jeans // - jeans <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la chitarra //– guitar ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il piano //– piano ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il violino //– violin ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la tuba //– tuba …….. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il trombone //– trombone ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">strumenti musicali //– musical instruments ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’opera – //opera …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la sinfonia //– the symphony <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la lampada – ////<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> lamp ……. il telefono //– telephone ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il calcolatore //– calculator…….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la televisione //– television ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la radio //– radio …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il calendario //– calendar ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il dizionario //– dictionary ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">le lettere //– the letters (as in mail) …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> lettere di alfabeto // – alphabet letters ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la lista //– list …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la fotografia – ////<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> photograph ……. la copia //– copy ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la riproduzione //– the reproduction ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">istruzioni //– instructions …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il microscopio //– microscope ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’acquario //– aquarium ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il satellite //– satellite ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la medicina //– medicine …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il puzzle // – puzzle …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la candela //– candle ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">uno minuto //– a minute ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">uno secondo //– a second ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">un’ora //– an hour

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Food Cognates
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">un’insalata // – a salad …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la banana // – banana ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il melone //– melon ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il limone //– lemon ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la pera //– pear ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la frutta //– fruit ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il yogurt //- yogurt …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il cereale //– cereal ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il tè //- tea ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il //caffè – coffee …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la cioccolata // – chocolate ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’hamburger //– hamburger …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il sale //– salt ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il pepe // - pepper ....... i//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l barbecue //– barbeque …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il picnic //- picnic

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Places To Go and Transportation Cognates
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il ristorante //– restaurant …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la banca //– bank ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il parco //– park ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’ospedale //– hospital ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il capitale //– capital …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il cinema // – the cinema ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la montagna //– mountain ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la foresta //– the forest <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l'autobus //– bus …….. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il tassì //– taxi ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il treno //– train …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> la canoa //– canoe ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il sommergibile //– submergible/submarine …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> il motociclo //– motorcycle ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la bicicletta //– bicycle …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> el triciclo //– tricycle ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il getto // – jet ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">l’elicottero //– helicopter ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">il trattore //– tractor …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> l’ambulanza // - ambulance

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Descriptive Cognates
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">importante //– important ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">corretto //– correct ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">fantastico // - fantastic ....... //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">orribile // – horrible ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">ambizioso // – ambitious ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">temperatura – // temperature ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">tardo //– tardy ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">terribile //– terrible ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">tradizionale – // traditional …….//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> classico //– classical ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">equilibrio // – equilibrium/balance ....... //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">un incidente //– an accident ……. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">di talento //– talented ….. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">imbarazzante // - embarrassing

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">False Italian/English Cognates
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Beware of look-alike words that aren’t really cognates. These Italian words may look like English words, but they mean something else entirely. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la carta //– not a cart, but paper <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">la tromba //– not a trombone, but a trumpet <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Identifying cognates can help the Italian language student build usable vocabulary quickly. The above cognate inventory is by no means a complete list; but it provides a starting place to increase functional vocabulary. The list can be added to as new cognates are discovered. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Buona fortuna! //(Good luck!)

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