Unlocking French with Cognates: A Shortcut to Learning
Learning a new language can feel overwhelming, but what if students already knew hundreds of French words without realizing it? That’s the magic of French-English cognates—words that look and mean the same (or almost the same) in both languages. Teaching students to recognize these linguistic shortcuts can build confidence, expand vocabulary quickly, and make French feel much more approachable.
What Are Cognates?
Cognates are words that have a common origin and often look and sound similar in two languages. For example:
Animal (same spelling, same meaning)
Banane (almost the same as “banana”)
Musique (easy to guess—“music”)
Since English has borrowed thousands of words from French, students already have a strong foundation without even trying. The key is helping them recognize and use these words effectively.
How to Teach French Using Cognates
1. Start with the Easiest Cognates
Begin with identical or nearly identical words so students see instant connections. Some great examples include:
Hôtel
Restaurant
Téléphone
Café
Identique
Have students make a list of French words they recognize without needing a dictionary. This builds confidence right away.
2. Teach Common Cognate Patterns
Many English words follow predictable patterns when converted into French. Once students recognize these patterns, they can decode unfamiliar words more easily. Some common transformations include:
-tion in English → -tion in French (nation, communication, action)
-ic in English → -ique in French (public → public, music → musique)
-ous in English → -eux/-euse in French (curious → curieux, delicious → délicieux)
-ty in English → -té in French (reality → réalité, liberty → liberté)
Give students a list of English words and challenge them to convert them into French using these patterns.
3. Play Cognate Matching Games
Turn learning into a game with these fun activities:
Memory Match: Create a set of English and French word cards and have students match them.
Cognate Scavenger Hunt: Provide a French text and ask students to highlight all the words they recognize.
Guess the Meaning: Show students a new French word that follows a cognate pattern and ask them to guess its meaning.
4. Introduce False Cognates (Faux Amis) With Caution
While most cognates are helpful, some can be tricky. Words that look similar but have different meanings are called false cognates or faux amis. Some common examples include:
Librairie (not a library, but a bookstore!)
Actuellement (doesn’t mean “actually,” it means “currently”)
Assister (not “to assist,” but “to attend”)
Rather than overwhelming students, introduce these gradually and in context.
5. Encourage Cognate Use in Speaking and Writing
Once students recognize cognates, encourage them to use them in everyday conversations and writing exercises. Some ideas:
Sentence Challenges: Give students a list of cognates and have them create sentences using as many as possible.
Cognate Conversations: Have students hold a conversation using at least five cognates each.
Writing Prompts: Assign a short paragraph and challenge students to include at least ten cognates.
click HERE to access a number of FSL resources to help you start teaching cognates to your students today.
Final Thoughts
French-English cognates are one of the easiest ways to help students build their vocabulary and confidence quickly. By recognizing familiar words, spotting patterns, and using them in meaningful ways, students can feel a real sense of progress early in their language-learning journey. Next time your students feel stuck, remind them—they already know more French than they think! Visit THE FRENCH NOOK for teaching resources that can help you get started teaching cognates today.
How do you use cognates in your classroom?
Some other blog posts you might enjoy: French reading activities for the FSL classroom, Teaching Phonics in French class, Reading comprehension strategies for the FSL classroom
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