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INSTRUCTOR: Volcano Spanish. Lesson 1

INSTRUCTOR: In this Spanish course, I will show you how to quickly and easily

expand your Spanish vocabulary. You may find this hard to believe, but you

already know literally thousands of Spanish words.

When you finish with this Spanish course, you will have the tools in order to build

an enormous Spanish vocabulary just by following a few simple rules and applying

them to your knowledge of the English vocabulary.

There are certain words that exist in both Spanish and English that are spelled the

same way or almost the same way, and that have the same meaning or very similar

meanings. These words are called cognates.

The Spanish language evolved from Latin over the last two thousand years.

Although the English language is not as closely related to Latin as Spanish, the

English language still borrows thousands of words from Latin. Many of these

words are the same words that Spanish uses. Spanish and English have also

borrowed many words from Greek. As a result, Spanish and English have

thousands of cognates in common. This is another reason why you can quickly

build a huge Spanish vocabulary based on the English words that you already

know.

But be aware that there are certain words that have a common origin in Latin but

have very different meanings in Spanish and English. These words are called false

cognates. You may have also heard the terms false friends or "amigos falsos." But

you should be happy to know that the overwhelming majority of these words,

which are spelled the same or almost the same, have similar meanings in the two

languages.

While learning these Spanish cognates, or Spanish words that are similar to

English words, be aware that many of these words may also have a slightly

different spelling from English and the pronunciation is almost always a little

different. All you have to do is make some slight changes in the spelling of many

English words and they become Spanish words. In fact, there are many Spanish

words which are spelled exactly the same way as their English counterparts.

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In this lesson, you will learn about 7 groups or 7 categories of these Spanish

cognates. Let’s begin with the group of Spanish cognates that end in the letters O-

R. These Spanish words, which end in the letters O-R, are stressed on the last

syllable. Normally, these words are spelled the same way in both Spanish and

English.

Later in this lesson, I will have lots of interactive exercises for you to do. But for

right now, I want you to repeat the following Spanish words after the Spanish

speaker. Keep in mind that the Spanish word “el” means “the.” And the Spanish

word “un” means “a’ or “an.” Now repeat after the Spanish speaker.

(Group 1- Spanish words that end in the letters O-R)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

el actor

el autor (author)

el coautor (co-author)

el color

el director

el doctor

el humor

el motor

el error

el profesor

el tractor

el doctor

el inspector

el instructor

el opresor

el editor

un favor

un conductor

un inventor

interior

exterior

superior

ardor

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candor

censor

fervor

furor

honor

horror

INSTRUCTOR: The next group of Spanish words, which are similar to English

words that you already know, end in the letters A-L. In most cases, you will find

that the spelling of the words are identical in the two languages. It is very

important that you repeat after the Spanish speaker if you want to develop proper

pronunciation and an authentic Latin American Spanish accent. Now repeat the

following Spanish words:

(Group 2- Spanish words that end in the letters A-L)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

abdominal

accidental

animal

anual

arsenal

artificial

brutal

canal

capital

carnal

catedral (cathedral)

central

cereal

ceremonial

colonial

colosal (colossal)

comercial

condicional

confidencial (confidential)

constitucional (constitutional)

continental

convencional (conventional)

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coral

cordial

corral

credencial

criminal

cristal (cristal)

cultural

decimal

dental

editorial

educacional (educational)

electoral

elemental

emocional (emotional)

episcopal

esencial (essential)

especial

excepcional (exceptional)

experimental

facial

fatal

federal

festival

final

formal

fraternal

frugal

fundamental

funeral

general

gradual

gramatical (grammatical)

gutural

horizontal

hospital

ideal

ilegal (illegal)

imparcial (impartial)

imperial

industrial

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infernal

informal

inicial (initial)

instrumental

intelectual

intencional (intentional)

internacional (international)

intestinal

irracional (irrational)

jovial

judicial

legal

liberal

literal

local

material

matrimonial

maternal

medicinal

mental

metal

monumental

moral

mortal

municipal

mural

musical

nacional (national)

natural

naval

neutral

normal

ocasional

oficial

oral

oriental

original

ornamental

parcial (partial)

pastoral

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paternal

pedal

pedestal

personal

plural

portal

postal

potencial (potential)

principal

profesional

provincial

puntual (punctual)

racial

racional (rational)

regional

residencial (residential)

rival

rural

sensacional (sensational)

sensual

sentimental

social

superficial

terminal

total

tradicional (traditional)

trivial

tropical

universal

usual

vertical

visual

vital

vocal

INSTRUCTOR: The next group of Spanish words, which are similar to English

words that you already know, end in the letters B-L-E. Spanish words that end in

the letters B-L-E are stressed on the next to last syllable. You will usually find that

the words are identical in the two languages. Repeat the following Spanish words

after the Spanish speaker:

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(Group 3 - Spanish words that end in the letters B-L-E)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

abominable

aceptable

adaptable

admirable

adorable

afable

cable

comparable

curable

deplorable

detestable

durable

explicable

favorable

flexible

formidable

ilimitable

imaginable

impenetrable

impregnable

improbable

inalterable

incomparable

incurable

inefable

inestimable

inevitable

inexplicable

inflamable

inimitable

insaciable

inseparable

interminable

intolerable

irreparable

irreprochable

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irrevocable

irritable

lamentable

miserable

navegable

noble

notable

presentable

probable

respetable

responsable

sociable

tolerable

variable

venerable

vulnerable

accesible

admisible

compatible

dirigible

horrible

imperceptible

imposible

incompatible

infalible

invisible

irresistible

plausible

posible

susceptible

tangible

terrible

visible

INSTRUCTOR: The fourth group of Spanish words, which are similar to English

words that you already know, end in the letters I-C. In order to change Spanish

words that end in I-C to English words, all you have to do is add the letter “O.”

Repeat the following Spanish words after the Spanish speaker:

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(Group 4 - Spanish words that end in the letters I-C which are formed by

adding the letter “O” to the end of English words)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

académico

acrobático

acuático

aeronáutico

agnóstico

alegórico

anémico

antiséptico

aristocrático

aromático

arsénico

atlántico

atómico

automático

auténtico (authentic)

autocrático

báltico

británico

burocrático

cáustico

científico (scientific)

cosmético

cromático

democrático

diabético

diagnóstico

dinámico

diplomático

dramático

drástico

económico

elástico

eléctrico

enciclopédico

enigmático

erótico

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evangélico

excéntrico

exótico

fanático

fantástico

filantrópico

filarmónico

fonético

fotográfico

gálico

geográfico

gimnástico

hipnótico

histórico

idiomático

irónico

lingüístico

litográfico

lunático

mágico

magnético

mecánico

melodramático

metálico

metalúrgico

microscópico

monástico

mosaico

narcótico

neurótico

nostálgico

óptico

optimístico

ortopédico

pacífico

paralítico

patriótico

plástico

platónico

plutocrático

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prehistórico

profético

prolífico

prosaico

público

romántico

rústico

sarcástico

sardónico

sinfónico

teutónico

tónico

tópico

trágico

transatlántico

trópico

volcánico

INSTRUCTOR: Let’s now learn about the fifth group of Spanish words, which

are similar to English words that you already know. By simply adding the letter

“e” to many English words that end in the letters E-N-T you can instantly add new

words to your Spanish vocabulary. Repeat the following Spanish words:

(Group 5 – Spanish words that are formed by adding the letter “e” to English

words that end in the letters E-N-T)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

accidente

adolescente

agente

astringente

cliente

competente

contingente

decadente

decente

diferente

eficiente

elocuente (eloquent)

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eminente

equivalente

evidente

excelente

frecuente (frequent)

impaciente

imprudente

incidente

incompetente

inconsistente

inconveniente

indecente

independiente (independent)

indiferente

indolente

indulgente

inherente

insistente

insolente

insuficiente

inteligente

irreverente

negligente

occidente

oriente

paciente (patient)

permanente

potente

precedente

presente

presidente

prominente

prudente

reciente (recent)

suficiente

superintendente

tangente

transparente

urgente

vehemente

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INSTRUCTOR: We will now cover our sixth group of Spanish words, which are

similar to English words that you already know. By simply adding the letter “e” to

many English word that end in the letters A-N-T you can instantly add new words

to your Spanish vocabulary. Repeat the following Spanish words:

(Group 6 – Spanish words that are formed by adding the letter “e” to English

words that end in the letters A-N-T)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

abundante

consonante

constante

dominante

elefante

elegante

ignorante

importante

incesante

intolerante

lubricante

radiante

restaurante

insignificante

INSTRUCTOR: Let’s now talk about our seventh group of Spanish words, which

are similar to English words that you already know. By simply adding the letter

“o” to many English words that end in the letters M-E-N-T you can add new words

to your Spanish vocabulary. Repeat the following Spanish words:

(Group 7– Spanish words that are formed by adding the letter “o” to English

words that end in the letters M-E-N-T)

SPANISH SPEAKER:

el argumento

el implemento

el monumento

el armamento

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el linimento

el fragmento

el sacramento

el sentimiento (sentiment)

el suplemento

el testamento

el temperamento

INSTRUCTOR: Now let’s do an exercise. I will say a phrase in English and then

you will translate the phrase by saying it in Spanish. The Spanish speaker will then

say the correct response in Spanish. Be sure to say the correct answer before the

Spanish speaker and then make sure that you repeat the correct answer after the

Spanish speaker in order to make sure that you develop an authentic Latin

American Spanish accent.

I will assume that you already know the following:

The Spanish word “es” means “is.” Although, there are actually two ways to say

“is” in Spanish, in this lesson we will use the Spanish word “es.” And in order to

say “is not” we will use the Spanish phrase “no es.” As a reminder, the Spanish

word “un” means “a’ or “an.”

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice? How do you say?: The cable is important.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El cable es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: The phrase ¿Cómo se dice? means “how do you say?” or “how

does one say?

INSTRUCTOR:¿Cómo se dice?: The cable is not important.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El cable no es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: Make sure that you say the correct answer before the Spanish

speaker says it. And then repeat the correct answer after the Spanish speaker in

order to make sure that you develop an authentic Latin American Spanish accent.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The animal is important.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El animal es importante.

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INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The professor is important.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El profesor es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The actor is romantic.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El actor es romántico.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The actor is NOT romantic.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El actor no es romántico.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The criminal is brutal.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El criminal es brutal.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The monument is essential.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El monumento es esencial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The festival is special.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El festival es especial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The doctor is competent.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El doctor es competente.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The doctor is incompetent.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El doctor es incompetente.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The instructor is intelligent.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El instructor es inteligente.

INSTRUCTOR: . ¿Cómo se dice?: The hosptial is excellent.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El hospital es excelente.

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INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The cereal is horrible.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El cereal es horrible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The restaurant is terrible.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El restaurante es terrible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The president is sociable.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El presidente es sociable.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The cable is flexible.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El cable es flexible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The material is durable.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El material es durable.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The president is democratic.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El presidente es democrático.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The author is cordial.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El autor es cordial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: The lubricant is transparent.

SPANISH SPEAKER: El lubricante es transparente.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se dice?: An accident is tragic.

SPANISH SPEAKER: Un accidente es trágico.

INSTRUCTOR: You can change the above sentences into questions just by

changing the word order. For example, ¿Es sociable el presidente? means “is the

president sociable?” But in normal, everyday conversational Spanish, you are more

likely to hear Spanish speakers use the same word order as a sentence and then

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simply add a rising intonation at the end of the sentence in order to ask a question.

For example, ¿El presidente es sociable? English speakers commonly ask

questions the same way in English. For example, I can ask “is the president

sociable?” Or I can use the same word order as a sentence and add a rising

intonation at the end of the sentence in order to form a question. For example, I can

ask “the president is sociable?”

INSTRUCTOR: Let’s do another exercise. I will say a question in English and

then you will translate it by asking the same question in Spanish. Use the same

word order as a sentence but add a rising intonation at the end in order to form a

question. Make sure that you say the question in Spanish before the Spanish

speaker. And then repeat the question after the Spanish speaker in order to make

sure that you develop proper pronunciation and an authentic Latin American

Spanish accent.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta? How do you ask?: Is the cable is

important?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El cable es importante?

INSTRUCTOR: The phrase ¿Cómo se pregunta? means “how do you ask?” or

“how does one ask?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the animal important?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El animal es importante?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: The cable is not important?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El cable no es importante?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the professor important?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El profesor es importante?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the actor romantic?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El actor es romántico?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: The actor is NOT romantic?

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SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El actor no es romántico?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the criminal brutal?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El criminal es brutal?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the monument essential?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El monumento es esencial?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the festival special?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El festival es especial?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the doctor competent?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El doctor es competente?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the doctor incompetent?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El doctor es incompetente?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the instructor intelligent?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El instructor es inteligente?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the hospital excellent?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El hospital es excelente?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the cereal horrible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El cereal es horrible?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the restaurant terrible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El restaurante es terrible?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the president sociable?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El presidente es sociable?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the cable flexible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El cable es flexible?

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INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the material durable?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El material es durable?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the president democratic?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El presidente es democrático?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the author cordial?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El autor es cordial?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is the lubricant transparent?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿El lubricante es transparente?

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Cómo se pregunta?: Is an accident tragic?

SPANISH SPEAKER: ¿Un accidente es trágico?

INSTRUCTOR: Let’s do another exercise. In the following exercise, I will ask a

question in Spanish. You will respond in Spanish with an affirmative answer.

Make sure that you say the correct response before the Spanish speaker. And then

repeat the correct response after the Spanish speaker in order to make sure that you

develop correct pronunciation in Spanish. As a reminder, the Spanish word for yes

is “sí” Let’s begin.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El cable es importante?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el cable es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El animal es importante?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el animal es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿Un accidente es trágico?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, un accidente es trágico.

INSTRUCTOR: . ¿El profesor es importante?

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SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el profesor es importante.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El actor es romántico?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el actor es romántico.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El criminal es brutal?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el criminal es brutal.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El monumento es esencial?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el monumento es esencial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El festival es especial?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el festival es especial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El doctor es competente?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el doctor es competente.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El doctor es incompetente?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el doctor es incompetente.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El instructor es inteligente?

SPANISH SPEAKER: Sí, el instructor es inteligente.

INSTRUCTOR: Now I want you to respond in Spanish with a negative answer.

Once again, make sure that you say the correct response before the Spanish

speaker. And then repeat the correct response after the Spanish speaker in order to

make sure that you develop correct pronunciation in Spanish. As a reminder, the

Spanish word for no is “no” Let’s begin.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El actor es romántico?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el actor no es romántico.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El hospital es excelente?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el hospital no es excelente.

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INSTRUCTOR: ¿El cereal es horrible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el cereal no es horrible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El restaurante es terrible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el restaurante no es terrible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El presidente es sociable?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el presidente no es sociable.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El cable es flexible?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el cable no es flexible.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El material es durable?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el material no es durable.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El presidente es democrático?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el presidente no es democrático.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El autor es cordial?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el autor no es cordial.

INSTRUCTOR: ¿El lubricante es transparente?

SPANISH SPEAKER: No, el lubricante no es transparente.

INSTRUCTOR: This is the end of lesson number 1 of Volcano Spanish. Repeat

this lesson as many times as it takes in order for you to feel confident speaking the

vocabulary words and phrases that you have learned in this lesson. For additional

practice, print the PDF transcript to this lesson and try forming your own sentences

and questions using the vocabulary words from this lesson. Be sure to speak out

loud when practicing, so that you improve your Spanish pronunciation.