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Submitted August 11, 2026
Published 2026-08-17

Artículos

No. 23 (2026): Cátedra

Cognates, false cognates, and partially false cognates : a critical issue for translation


DOI https://doi.org/10.48204/j.catedra.n23.a11038

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References
DOI: 10.48204/j.catedra.n23.a11038

Published: 2026-08-17

How to Cite

Cárdenas , R. A. (2026). Cognates, false cognates, and partially false cognates : a critical issue for translation. Cátedra, (23), 158–177. https://doi.org/10.48204/j.catedra.n23.a11038

Abstract

This essay examines the complex relationship between Spanish and English through the analysis of cognates, false cognates, and partially false cognates, with attention to suffix-based patterns. This work adopts an argumentative essay format, aiming to suggest the creation of a cognate seminar at the graduate level, given that our translators require a critical awareness of the semantic divergences of the topic. Through the analysis of cognate lists, this essay demonstrates that suffix regularity offers a reliable framework for identifying true cognates, but at the same time obscures the risk of false cognates. The conclusion underscores the pedagogical importance of distinguishing these three categories to develop lexical precision and intercultural competence. Based on the classification of examples taken from established lists of false friends, this essay provides a reflective perspective on the role of cognate awareness in university contexts.

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