# cognate

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cognate
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

a word in one language that looks and feels like a word in another language because they share the same ancestor. For example, 'night' in English and 'nuit' in French come from the same ancient root.

For teachers: a word that is related to another word in a different language through a common etymological origin. Derived from the Latin term for 'born together', the term implies a shared genetic history between lexical items.

## Examples

- The English word 'father' and the German word 'Vater' are cognates.
- Language learners often find cognates helpful when building vocabulary, though they must watch out for 'false friends' that look similar but mean different things.
- Linguistic reconstruction relies on identifying cognates across multiple languages to determine the phonological characteristics and geographical origins of an extinct proto-language.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'of' or 'with' when establishing the relationship between two specific words.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.