Cognate Patterns | Project Fluency™
Pattern Recognition

Complete Cognate Transformation Patterns

Master these systematic patterns to instantly recognize thousands of words across Romance languages.

Quick Stats
Cognate words8,500+
Patterns15
Instant recognition30-40%

What Are Cognates?

The Shortcut

Cognates are words in different languages that share the same origin and have similar meanings and spellings. Because English borrowed heavily from Latin and French, you already know thousands of words in Romance languages—you just need to learn the transformation rules.

English speakers can instantly recognize 30-40% of Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese vocabulary through cognate patterns.

English
information
Spanish
informaciĂłn

How to Use These Patterns

1
Start with high-frequency
Focus on patterns that unlock 1,000+ words first (-tion, -ty, -ment).
2
Recognition before production
Train your eye to spot patterns in reading before conversation.
3
Watch for false friends
While 90% are true cognates, some words have different meanings.
4
Apply across languages
Many patterns work across all Romance languages.

Spanish Patterns

15 Transformation Rules

Test Your Knowledge

Apply the patterns you just learned

What's the cognate for:
university
Pattern: -ty → -dad
5/5
Great job! You've mastered these patterns.

Watch Out: False Friends

Not every similar-looking word is a true cognate. These "false friends" look familiar but mean something different.

embarrassed≠embarazada(pregnant)
actually≠actualmente(currently)
library≠librería(bookstore)
exit≠éxito(success)

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