The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

cognate

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Dictionary definition of cognate

Having a common origin or etymology, typically derived from the same ancestral language.
"The linguist studied the cognate relationships between Sanskrit and other Indo-European languages."

Detailed meaning of cognate

When words are described as cognate, it means they share similarities in form and meaning due to their historical linguistic connection. Cognate words often retain similar spellings, pronunciations, or semantic associations across different languages. This linguistic resemblance reflects their shared historical roots, indicating a common ancestry or linguistic heritage. Cognate words can be found within related language families or branches, such as the Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian), where numerous cognates exist due to their Latin origins. Understanding cognate relationships can facilitate language learning and enhance cross-linguistic comprehension, as recognizing cognates can provide valuable insights into the meaning and usage of unfamiliar words based on one's knowledge of related languages. The adjective 'cognate' emphasizes the shared linguistic heritage and the interconnectedness of words across different languages.

Example sentences containing cognate

1. English and German have several cognate words, such as "father" and "Vater."
2. The Spanish word "amigo" and the Italian word "amico" are cognates, both meaning "friend."
3. The student used their knowledge of French cognates to decipher the meaning of a new word in Spanish.
4. The English word "hospital" and the French word "hôpital" are cognates with similar meanings.
5. The linguistics professor explained the concept of cognate languages to the eager students.
6. In studying Latin, one can discover many cognate words in modern Romance languages.
7. The researcher analyzed cognate words across various dialects to trace their historical origins.
8. The Germanic cognates in Old English influenced the development of the language.

History and etymology of cognate

The adjective 'cognate' has its origins in Latin and can be traced back to the Latin word 'cognatus.' 'Cognatus' is a compound word consisting of 'co,' meaning 'together,' and 'gnatus,' which is related to 'natus,' meaning 'born' or 'begotten.' This etymology reflects the concept that cognate words share a common ancestry or are 'born together' from a common source, typically an ancestral language. In linguistic terms, when two words in different languages are considered cognates, it means they have evolved from the same root or origin, highlighting the historical and etymological connections between languages. Thus, the term 'cognate' is a linguistic descriptor that emphasizes the shared heritage and evolutionary relationship between words in different languages.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the adjective cognate:

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Further usage examples of cognate

1. The discovery of shared cognates between unrelated language families puzzled the linguists.
2. The Russian and Ukrainian languages share many cognate words due to their common Slavic roots.
3. The linguist's book explored the cognate relationships between indigenous languages in the region.
4. English and German are cognate languages with shared roots.
5. Spanish and Portuguese share many cognate words.
6. Linguists study cognate languages to trace their history.
7. The cognate relationship between French and Italian is evident.
8. Latin and its cognate languages have influenced many others.
9. Identifying cognate words can aid language learners.
10. The cognate vocabulary between Dutch and Afrikaans is extensive.
11. Russian and Ukrainian have numerous cognate expressions.
12. Cognate languages often exhibit similar grammatical structures.
13. Arabic and Hebrew have cognate terms due to their Semitic origins.
14. Cognate words can help decipher unfamiliar languages.
15. The cognate relationship between Icelandic and Old Norse is strong.
16. Cognate languages offer insight into historical migrations.
17. Recognizing cognate roots can enhance language comprehension.
18. Greek and Sanskrit are cognate languages of ancient significance.
19. Comparative linguistics explores cognate language connections.
20. The cognate link between Swedish and Norwegian is unmistakable.
21. Linguists trace the evolution of cognate languages over centuries.
22. Chinese and Japanese share some cognate characters.
23. Cognate languages often have similar phonetic patterns.