Cognates are words in different languages that have similar or the same spelling and share the same meaning.
However, cognates are pronounced differently in different languages.
They are also called true friends, a translation of the French term vrais amis.
Common English-French cognates.
English-French cognates are easily recognizable because they look similar and sometimes identical.
The beginning of a cognate is always the same, but the ending sometimes differs.
Here are some common ending patterns for French-English cognates:
Words ending in -al are generally the same in French.
|
English |
French |
|
animal |
animal |
|
final |
final |
|
hospital |
hôpital |
|
mental |
mental |
|
original |
original |
|
tropical |
tropical |
Many English words ending in -ly change to -ment French.
|
English |
French |
|
completely |
complètement |
|
generally |
généralement |
|
definitely |
définitivement |
|
simply |
simplement |
|
sincerely |
sincèrement |
|
seriously |
sérieusement |
Many English words ending in -ive change to -if in French.
|
English |
French |
|
active |
actif |
|
negative |
négatif |
|
passive |
passif |
|
massive |
massif |
|
objective |
objectif |
|
collective |
collectif |
Many English words ending in -c change to -que in French.
|
English |
French |
|
toxic |
toxique |
|
civic |
civique |
|
classic |
classique |
|
music |
musique |
|
electric |
électrique |
|
automatic |
automatique |
Many English words ending in -ogist change to -ogue in French.
|
English |
French |
|
dermatologist |
dermatologue |
|
psychologist |
psychologue |
|
sociologist |
sociologue |
|
archaeologist |
archéologue |
|
cardiologist |
cardiologue |
|
oncologist |
oncologue |
Words ending in -ant are generally the same in French.
|
English |
French |
|
important |
important |
|
elegant |
élégant |
|
assistant |
assistant |
|
participant |
participant |
|
restaurant |
restaurant |
|
radiant |
radiant |
Many English words ending in -ist change to -iste in French.
|
English |
French |
|
specialist |
spécialiste |
|
artist |
artiste |
|
journalist |
journaliste |
|
dentist |
dentiste |
|
cyclist |
cycliste |
|
optimist |
optimiste |
Many English words ending in -ary change to -aire in French.
|
English |
French |
|
secretary |
secrétaire |
|
secondary |
secondaire |
|
dictionary |
dictionnaire |
|
necessary |
nécessaire |
|
salary |
salaire |
|
anniversary |
anniversaire |
Many English nouns ending in -ance are the same in French.
|
English |
French |
|
performance |
performance |
|
substance |
substance |
|
ambulance |
ambulance |
|
finance |
finance |
|
distance |
distance |
|
arrogance |
arrogance |
Words ending in -ct usually have the same ending in French.
|
English |
French |
|
aspect |
aspect |
|
correct |
correct |
|
instinct |
instinct |
|
direct |
direct |
|
respect |
respect |
|
contact |
contact |
Nouns ending in -tion usually have the same ending in French.
|
English |
French |
|
destination |
destination |
|
conversation |
conversation |
|
education |
éducation |
|
station |
station |
|
relation |
relation |
|
solution |
solution |
Words ending in -ible or -able usually stay the same or are similar in French.
|
English |
French |
|
comfortable |
confortable |
|
responsible |
responsable |
|
possible |
possible |
|
terrible |
terrible |
|
admirable |
admirable |
|
visible |
visible |
Words that end in -ical usually change to -ique in French.
|
English |
French |
|
biological |
biologique |
|
critical |
critique |
|
identical |
identique |
|
historical |
historique |
|
practical |
pratique |
|
typical |
typique |
Nouns ending in -ent usually keep the same ending in French.
|
English |
French |
|
patient |
patient |
|
different |
différent |
|
client |
client |
|
urgent |
urgent |
|
president |
président |
|
document |
document |
Words ending in -ence usually have the same ending in French.
|
English |
French |
|
difference |
différence |
|
conference |
conférence |
|
influence |
influence |
|
silence |
silence |
|
violence |
violence |
|
patience |
patience |