Easy verbs in Spanish – words that are almost the same in English and Spanish

When learning Spanish as an English speaker, one of the most helpful aspects of the language is the abundance of cognates — words that have a common etymological origin and sound almost the same. In this article, we will delve into a set of common and easy Spanish verbs that are cognates of their English equivalents.

The Most Common and Easiest Cognates

1. Estudiar (to study): One of the first verbs Spanish students learn, ‘estudiar’ is directly related to the English verb ‘to study’. It is used in the same contexts, making it easy to remember.
2. Comunicar (to communicate): This verb is identical in meaning to its English counterpart ‘to communicate’. Whether it’s communicating ideas in a meeting or communicating with friends, ‘comunicar’ is a versatile verb.
3. Visitar (to visit): Another easy cognate, ‘visitar’, shares the same spelling and meaning with the English verb ‘to visit’.
4. Reservar (to reserve): Whether you’re reserving a table at a restaurant or a room at a hotel, ‘reservar’ is the verb you need.
5. Celebrar (to celebrate): Just like in English, ‘celebrar’ is used to express the act of marking a special occasion or commemorating an event.

By starting with these cognate verbs, Spanish learners can quickly expand their vocabulary while improving their communication skills.

Next Most Common Cognate Verbs

Building on the first set of Spanish-English cognates, here is another set of verbs that are similar to their English equivalents. These verbs are slightly more complex but equally useful in conversation.

1. Investigar (to investigate): Just as detectives investigate in English, detectives ‘investigan’ in Spanish. This verb is used in a variety of contexts, from professional investigations to personal inquiries.
2. Practicar (to practice): Whether you’re practicing a sport, a language, or a musical instrument, ‘practicar’ is the verb you’ll need in Spanish.
3. Observar (to observe): This verb is essential for anything requiring close scrutiny or attention, from scientific experiments to people-watching.
4. Administrar (to administer): Whether it’s administering medicine or administering a business, ‘administrar’ is the verb used in Spanish.
5. Concentrar (to concentrate): When you need to focus your attention or efforts on something, you would use the verb ‘concentrar’ in Spanish, much like ‘to concentrate’ in English.

Understanding and using these cognate verbs can significantly ease your Spanish learning journey, making it both simpler and more enjoyable. Be sure to incorporate them into your vocabulary to enhance your conversational skills.

Check out our series of Complete Spanish Grammar articles – everything you’ll ever need to know about Spanish grammar.

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