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What words are like irascible in Spanish?
The word "irascible" is the first word I have discovered that has identical spelling in Spanish and English without being a loan-word like "chocolate". It has the same meaning in both languages. In English it is not a common spoken word, but is used as a more colorful way to say "prone to anger" in writing. I am told that native Spanish speakers do not use it as often. Do you know any other words (not loan words like "rodeo") with this property? Am I wrong about the use of irascible, do educated people use the word in conversation?
Most cognates have similar spellings, like (EN) accept & (SP) aceptar. I was talking about cognates with the exact same spelling. A loan-word like "chocolate" is a Spanish word based on an indigenous word which was borrowed into English with the same spelling, but an English pronounciation.
Thank you for the list of cognates, as I see that there are more of them with identical spellings (ex. abdomen, abnormal, calculable, central) than I thought.
3 Answers
- 8 years agoFavorite Answer
Hello;
This is what I know to be true. The word "irascible," like many other words we find in English, Spanish, French and other Romance languages (English is an Anglo-Saxon Language, I know, but it has been strongly influenced by the Romances) comes from the Latin "irascibilis" which, of course means being prone to becoming angry. I believe it'd be more accurate to say it means "able to be angry," or so.
In any case; I'm pretty sure you already knew that. Here's a different word that we, native Spanish speakers use instead, but which means the same: "IRACUNDO" This word is used much more colloquially, at least in a few Spanish speaking countries. I'm from Mexico City, and I heard, spoke, read and wrote the word many times in my life. It exists in English; but not with the same spelling. It is an alternate word for irascible.
I don' t believe educated people would use the word any more than "uneducated" people would, it's just that different words fall into disuse at given times, and some re surge every so often, while others disappear completely.
Other words with similar aptitudes are: circular, triangular, angular, gratis, matrimonial, similar, perfume, alcohol, principal, etc.
Source(s): I'm a native Spanish speaker who loves languages and their study. - 8 years ago
This seems to be the most comprehensive list A-Z:
http://spanishcognates.org/cognate-list
You will find this a lot in Spanish! A lot of words in English are easily translated in Spanish
Source(s): Spanish Tutor, High School AP/College-level coursework, 14 yrs Spanish - maminaLv 68 years ago
neither irascible nor iracundo are used...
propensa o propenso a la ira (prone to anger)...
saludos
