cognate in English
- cognate⇄adj. 1a. related in origin; descended from the same original language. English, Dutch, and German are cognate languages.
b. coming from the same word or root. English ?father, German ?Vater, and Latin ?pater are cognate words.
2. related by - cognate⇄cognate, adjective, noun.
- cognate⇄noun cognateness.
- cognate⇄noun 1. a word, language, or thing related to another by having a common source. The German word ?Wasser and the English word ?water are cognates.
2a. (Anthropology.) a person related to another by family; kinsman.
b. a kinsman on the mothe
cognate in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
cognate in Sindhi سنڌي
cognate in Telugu తెలుగు
Cognate
Part of Speech
Adjective, Noun
Pronunciation
/ˈkɒɡ.neɪt/ (English), /kɔɲat/ (French)
Definitions
- Adjective: (Of a word) having the same linguistic origin as another; related by derivation.
- Noun: A word that has the same linguistic root or origin as another.
- In biology, refers to two or more species that share a common ancestor.
Usage Examples
- English and German have many cognate words, such as "mother" and "Mutter".
- The two languages share a large number of cognates, which makes them easier to learn for speakers of the other.
- In biology, the lion and tiger are cognates of the same genus.
Etymology
From the Latin word "cognatus," meaning "blood relative" or "born together," from "com-" (together) + "gnatus" (born). The word originally referred to kinship and later extended to language and other fields to describe related things or concepts.
Synonyms
- Related
- Equivalent
- Parallel
Antonyms
- Unrelated
- Dissimilar
- Unconnected
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Cognado | /koˈɣnado/ |
| French | Cognat | /kɔɲat/ |
| German | Verwandt | /fɛʁˈvɑndt/ |
| Italian | Cognato | /koˈɲato/ |
| Portuguese | Cognato | /koˈɡnatu/ |
| Russian | Сродный (Srodeny) | /ˈsrɒdnɪ/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 同源词 (Tóngyuán cí) | /tʰʊŋ˧˥ juanˊ tsʰɨˊ/ |
| Japanese | 同系語 (Dōkeigo) | /doːkeːɡo/ |
| Hindi | समान (Samān) | /səˈmɑːn/ |
| Arabic | مترادف (Mutarādif) | /mʊˈtæːrædɪf/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- English (UK): /ˈkɒɡ.neɪt/
- English (US): /ˈkɔːɡ.neɪt/
- French: /kɔɲat/
- Spanish: /koˈɣnado/
Historical Usage
The word "cognate" originated in the 16th century, primarily used in the context of language to describe words derived from a common ancestral language. Over time, it expanded to include fields like biology and genetics, where it is used to describe entities that share a common origin or ancestry. Its application has become more flexible, encompassing anything that is related or derived from a common source.
Cultural Nuances
Cognates are not only important in linguistics but also in anthropology and other studies of human culture. The discovery of cognate words and concepts across cultures often highlights historical migrations and the diffusion of ideas, as languages and cultures evolve. Cognates also help in tracing linguistic history, including the development of dialects and regional variations.
More Information
The concept of cognates is vital in understanding both language evolution and the genetic relationships between species. In linguistics, cognates help to trace the roots of language families, such as the Indo-European languages. The study of cognates involves comparing similar words across different languages to understand how languages are related. In genetics, the term "cognate" may be used to describe genes that have evolved from a common ancestor gene, reflecting the shared heritage of different species.