An ELT Glossary : Cognates and False Cognates
Cognates
- Definition : A word that has a similar form and pronunciation, and the same meaning in English and the learner’s L1 (usually because they derive from the same root word in another language - eg vocabulary in both Italian and English may derive from Latin) and which is therefore easy for the learner to understand and remember.
- Examples : the Italian word possibile is a cognate of the English possible; The German word Haus is a cognate of the English word house.
- Definition : A word that has a similar form in English and the learner’s
L1 but which is different in meaning and can therefore cause confusion to the
learner.
- Example : libraire means bookshop in French but looks like library in English; simpatico means nice, or pleasant in Italian, but looks like sympathetic.
