Cognate
Definition
(n) : A word related to another word in a different language by origin and meaning. (adj) : Describing things (words, ideas, languages) that are related or connected by origin.
Example
"(n) : The Spanish word "color" is a cognate of the English word "color.""
"(adj) : Their ideas are cognate, as both revolve around change and impact."
"(adj) : As languages evolve, many cognate words remain similar across cultures."
Explanation
A cognate is a word that looks or sounds similar in two languages because it comes from the same older word. These words usually have the same meaning in both languages. For example, the English word “family” and the Spanish word “familia” are cognates. They both came from the same Latin word and mean the same thing. Cognates help people learning a new language because the words are already a little familiar.
We also say two languages or ideas are cognate if they are related or connected in some way.
Cognates of “Family”:
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Spanish: familia
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French: famille
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Italian: famiglia
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Portuguese: família