Decode Spanish: Spanish Nouns and English Adjectives

SPANISH NOUNS AND ENGLISH ADJECTIVES

Some Spanish nouns are related to English words that exist mainly as adjectives.

For example:

  • solar = relating to the sun

  • sol = sun

COMMON EXAMPLES

see figure above

Sol

  • sol: sun

  • Note: 'solar' means relating to the sun; the root 'sol' in 'solar' means sun.

  • Example: Hace sol.

  • Translation: It's sunny; literally, it makes sun.

Luna

  • luna: moon

  • Note: 'lunar' means relating to the moon; the root 'luna' in 'lunar' means moon.

  • Example: La luna es bonita.

  • Translation: The moon is pretty.

Agua

  • agua: water

  • Note: g → q, i.e. a(g)ua → a(q)ua; 'aquatic' means relating to water; the root 'aqua' in 'aquatic' means water

  • Example: ¿Quieres agua?

  • Translation: Do you want water?

Médico

  • médico: doctor

  • Note: a 'médico' is a 'medical' doctor.

  • Example: Necesito un médico.

  • Translation: I need a doctor.

Mente

  • mente: mind

  • Note: 'mental' means relating to the mind; the root 'ment' means mind or 'mente'.

  • Example: ¿Qué tienes en mente?

  • Translation: What do you have in mind?

Diente

  • diente: tooth

  • Note: ie → e, i.e. d(ie)nte → d(e)nte; 'dental' means relating to the tooth; the root 'dent' means tooth or 'diente'

  • Example: Me duelen los dientes.

  • Translation: My teeth hurt.

Madre

  • madre: mother

  • Note: re → er, d → t, i.e. ma(d)(re) → ma(t)(er); 'maternal' means relating to a mother; the root 'mater' means mother or 'madre'

  • Example: Ella es mi madre.

  • Translation: She is my mother.

Padre

  • padre: father

  • Note: re → er, d → t, i.e. pa(d)(re) → pa(t)(er); 'paternal' means relating to a father; the root 'pater' means father or 'padre'

  • Example: Mi padre está aquí.

  • Translation: My father is here.

Mar

  • mar: sea

  • Note: 'marine' means relating to the sea, such as in 'marine animals'; the root 'mar' means sea.

  • Example: El mar es muy bonito.

  • Translation: The sea is very beautiful.

Año

  • año: year

  • Note: ñ → nn, o → u, i.e. a(ñ)(o) → a(nn)(u); 'annual' means relating to a year; the root 'annu' means year or 'año'

  • Example: ¿Cuántos años tienes?

  • Translation: How old are you? Literally, how many years do you have?

Fin

  • fin: end

  • Note: 'final' means relating to the end; the root 'fin' in 'final' means the end.

  • Example: Por fin, estamos aquí.

  • Translation: At last, we're here.