Cognate Cognizance Podcast

Some people’s strength is visible on the outside. When I see a well-muscled person, I assume that he or she is physically strong, but that visible muscle may not show his her true strength — the thing that he or she is best at, or has the strongest ability in. Whatever that skill, whether it’s something physical, mental, artistic, academic, philanthropic, etc., that skill can be called a person’s...

Here we are in July already. July is a month when many people go to the beach for vacation. I won’t be one of them this year, but I’ve spent my share of time soaking up the rays on warm, tropical beaches — and falling asleep in the process because lying on a beach makes me “somnolent.” somnolent — an adjective used to describe something that makes you sleepy or that simply means “sleepy” or “drows...

When learning Spanish, one of the early vocabulary units tends to cover words for basic body parts. A few of those words have fairly obvious English cognates, but some have lesser-known ones that not only can help you remember the Spanish words but can also improve your English lexicon in the process. From the Latin word for “body” — corpus — we get the adjective that refers to things relating to...

This week’s “Cognate Cognizance” duo is one that I wish I’d known during those 30 years in which I was teaching Spanish. I came upon the English word, which is now considered mostly archaic, while reading “Moby Dick” recently. The moment I saw the word, I had one of those “ah-ha moments” in which I figuratively (and perhaps literally) slapped my head while simultaneously groaning aloud in frustrat...

This is April’s free post one week early because I need to take next week off — and no, this isn’t an early April Fool’s Day joke. I’ll return with a post for paying subscribers on April 8th, but I’ve made this post extra long for my paying subscribers’ benefit. Let’s begin with the cognate duo. vestural — an adjective meaning “of or relating to clothing or vesture” vestural — the Spanish cognate...

I dream of having a home library that is ample enough to hold all my books in one room or a wall like the one pictured that is more than ample enough. ample — an adjective meaning that something is “more than adequate in size, scope, or capacity” amplio/amplia — the masculine and feminine forms of the Spanish cognate of the same meaning “Ample” is a great word that doesn’t get used as much in Engl...

Are you confused as to why there is a photo of a woman jousting on a post about the word “career?” If you are, then you’re about to learn something. If you’re not, then give yourself a pat on the back for already having some solid cognate cognizance. The meaning of “job” or “profession” for “career” is not the original sense of the word, so let’s look at what those original senses are. career — as...

I’d be remiss to allow this Monday that falls on the first day of January, 2024, to slip by without addressing a cognate duo that may be on many people’s minds today. resolution — while this word has many meanings, the one I’ll focus on today is “something that is resolved or for which a firm decision has been made regarding it” resolución — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning These words hear...

Have you ever been accused of being a “Chatty Cathy?” (I’m showing my age by using that expression, I’m sure.) If so, you are probably a “prolix” person. Maybe a “Prolix Polly” or a “Verbose Veronica,” or a . . . oops, now I’m being “prolix.” prolix — an adjective describing someone using excess words; something written or spoken that is too long and drawn out prolijo — the Spanish masculine cogna...

(I apologize for the unavoidable car noises in the background of the recording. There’s no getting away from it right now because there’s a very busy avenue right outside my room here in Mexico.) The Panama Canal runs through the narrowest part of the “isthmus” of Panama. isthmus — a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses istmo — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning An “isthmus”...

literature — I doubt this needs a definition, but essentially, it’s “the writings in prose or verse” of humankind literatura — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning/s Given my love of literature and the fact that I’m an author myself, I’m a bit embarrassed that I haven’t covered this cognate duo before, but better late than never as the old saying goes. These words come from Latin’s littera whic...

foment — a verb meaning “to incite” or rouse or encourage or instigate fomentar — the Spanish cognate of the same meanings. “Foment” is a verb that nowadays usually carries a negative “fiery” connotation but it had a “warm” beginning. We tend to hear it now in media reports about people “fomenting rebellions” or other criminally charged events, but “foment” comes to us from Latin’s fovēre which me...

I hope you are fortunate to have the day off from work, but I know that some people still have to work, or do labor, on this day anyway. In honor of the day, though, let’s examine the word “labor” and its relatives. labor — a noun that in its simplest definition means “work” (— this word can also be used as a verb, “to labor,” and as an adjective, “a labor leader”) labor — concerning the noun vers...

While it’s not a “yellow wood” like the one in the famous Robert Frost poem, in the above photo there are two paths, so if you were this girl, which would you choose? There is a “decision” to be made before moving forward. She has to “decide.” decide — a verb meaning “to make a final choice about something” decidir — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning decidere — the Italian cognate of the sam...

plume — a noun meaning a “feather” in its simplest definition pluma — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning These words come from Latin’s pluma which also means a “feather.” In Latin, however, it tended to refer to a “small, soft feather,” whereas in English, we tend to think of a “plume” as a “large, showy feather.” Since it takes a large feather, or a “plume,” to create one of the original typ...

I know, I know. I’m a little old to be entering things in the county fair, but I wanted to give it a whirl and see how one of my watercolors would do. I also wrote a story about the county fair, and it’s running on the first page of the Norfolk Daily News today, so I thought it was a fitting time to discuss a certain cognate duo — and an extra one. fair — the NOUN that means a “competitive exhibit...

Years ago, (28 to be exact) I watched a phenomenal movie called “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” If you have never seen it, that is your homework for the week. Prior to seeing that movie, though, I hadn’t ever heard of the word “opus,” or perhaps I had but didn’t really understand what it was until after seeing the movie. opus — essentially, an “opus” is a “work” as in anything produced by the exertions of c...

incommode — a verb meaning “to inconvenience,” “to distress”, “to disturb” incomodar — the Spanish verb of the same meanings These words come down to us from Latin’s incommodus , meaning “inconvenient.” Essentially it’s a combination of the prefix in- that means “not” and the word “commodus” that means “convenient.” If something is “convenient” to us, it provides what we need or what gives us “com...

independence — the state of being independent, as in NOT being controlled or governed by others independencia — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning “Independence” and its cognates come to us from Latin’s dependēre which is a combination of the prefix of “de-” and “pendēre” which means “to hang.” Think of a pendant which is worn in a hanging fashion or something that is pendulous and hangs down...

impeccable — an adjective used to describe something that is flawless or without sin impecable — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning I recently read “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz. The first agreement says this: “Be impeccable with your word.” Ruiz goes on to explain the root of the word “impeccable,” which is Latin’s peccare and which means “to...

debility — a noun meaning “weakness” debilidad — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning Early in most Spanish textbooks there will be a list of adjectives used to describe people. Typically, they are arranged and taught as opposites. Thus, you get the Spanish words for “tall” and “short,” “pretty” and “ugly,” “old” and “young,” and “strong” and “weak.” The Spanish word for “weak” is “débil.” Of t...

radical — an adjective used to describe something that relates to or proceeds from roots radical — the Spanish cognate used in the same way The etymological “root” of “radical” is Latin’s radix . Does that remind you of our vegetable, the radish? It should. The word “radish” comes straight from that Latin word for “root” because what is a radish but the “root” of a certain type of plant. I love to...

I’m sure many of the King’s guards were quite “vigilant” at his coronation this past weekend. vigilant — an adjective describing someone who is very alert and watchful for danger vigilante — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning A “vigil” — “vigilia” in Spanish — is essentially a time period when someone stays awake to watch over something or someone. These words come from Latin’s vigil which si...

palaver — profuse and idle talk; chatter (this is the secondary meaning of “palaver” but it’s the one that concerns and is connected with the Spanish cognate) palabrería — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning A “palaver” can also mean a “conference” or discussion or a long parley between people of different cultures (which is where it first came into our language). In the sense of “conference,”...

Today we’re going to look at a few cognate duos that are all words for types of sayings that teach a lesson or relate fundamental truths. The first pairing. adage — a traditional saying that expresses a common experience or observation adagio — the Spanish cognate of the same meaning (The word “adagio” exists in English, too, but it refers to the way a musical piece is played slowly or the way a p...