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French
Cognates are words from two languages that are the same or similar. Because English borrows many words from Latin there are a lot of words that are very similar in English and French.
Many of these follow simple rules based on the word endings that allow you to have a French vocabulary of thousands of words in minutes.
Words that end in –al are usually the same in French. However, this rule does not apply to words ending in -ical, which follow a different cognate rule. Words ending in -al are usually adjectives.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Animal | Animal |
| Central | Central |
| Final | Final |
| Ideal | Ideal |
| International | International |
| Mental | Mental |
| Original | Original |
Words that end in –ance are usually the same in French. These words are often feminine nouns.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Distance | Distance |
| Arrogance | Arrogance |
| Importance | Importance |
| Intolerance | Intolerance |
| Perseverance | Persévérance |
| Substance | Substance |
| Ambulance | Ambulance |
| Finance | Finance |
Words that end in -ary change to -aire. These words can be either adjectives or nouns.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Anniversary | Anniversaire |
| Dictionary | Dictionnaire |
| Imaginary | Imaginaire |
| Salary | Salaire |
| Vocabulary | Vocabulaire |
Words ending in -ist change to -iste in French. These words are nouns and they keep the same ending for masculine and feminine.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Tourist | Touriste |
| Dentist | Dentiste |
| Artist | Artiste |
| Cyclist | Cycliste |
| Pessimist | Pessimiste |
Words that end in -ble are usually the same in French. These verbs are, generally, adjectives.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Adorable | Adorable |
| Flexible | Flexible |
| Horrible | Horrible |
| Impossible | Impossible |
| Visible | Visible |
Nouns ending in -tion generally have the same ending in French and are feminine nouns.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Information | Information |
| Conversation | Conversation |
| Tradition | Tradition |
| Station | Station |
| Celebration | Célébration |
Words that end in -ct are usually the same in French and can be nouns or adjectives.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Correct | Correct |
| Contact | Contact |
| Respect | Respect |
| Direct | Direct |
| Impact | Impact |
Words that end in -ent are usually the same in French. These words can be nouns or adjectives.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| President | President |
| Urgent | Urgent |
| Client | Client |
| Different | Different |
| Monument | Monument |
Words ending in -ical change to -ique, and they are often adjectives.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Electrical | Électrique |
| Critical | Critique |
| Identical | Identique |
| Practical | Pratique |
| Typical | Typique |
Words ending in -ence have the same ending in French. These words are usually femenine nouns.
Examples| English | French |
|---|---|
| Science | Science |
| Violence | Violence |
| Experience | Expérience |
| Intelligence | Intelligence |
| Patience | Patience |