INSTANT SPANISH: 10 Spanish Cognates that start with A

If you want to learn Spanish faster, start with Spanish cognates that start with A: words that look the same (or almost the same) in English and Spanish, and mean the same thing. Learning Spanish can feel intimidating at first — new words, new grammar, new sounds… it’s a lot. But here’s the good news: you already know more Spanish than you think. These perfect cognates are your shortcut to building vocabulary quickly and gaining confidence fast.

Let’s explore some of the most common and useful Spanish cognates that start with A.

Follow along with the video for best results:

Actor

Actor → Actor (ahk-TOR)
One of the simplest Spanish cognates that start with A is actor. The spelling and meaning are identical in English and Spanish. If someone performs in movies, TV, or theater, they’re an actor — same word, same concept.

Example sentence:
El actor principal ganó un premio.
(The lead actor won an award.)

Animal

Animal → Animal (ah-nee-MAL)
Another perfect match. Whether you’re describing a pet, wildlife, or any living creature, animal works exactly the same way in both languages.

Example sentence:
Un perro es un animal.
(A dog is an animal.)

Agenda

Agenda → Agenda (ah-HEN-da)
In Spanish, agenda refers to a planner, notebook, or schedule — the same idea as in English. If you organize your day, you use an agenda.

Example sentence:
Escribí la reunión en mi agenda.
(I wrote the meeting in my planner.)

Alcohol

Alcohol → Alcohol (al-KO-hol)
Alcohol is used the same way in English and Spanish, whether you’re talking about beverages, disinfectants, or medical supplies.

Example sentence:
Compré alcohol para la fiesta.
(I bought alcohol for the party.)

Álbum

Album → Álbum (AL-boom)
Just an accent mark separates the two. This Spanish-English Cognate refers to music albums, photo albums, or collections of any type.

Example sentence:
Mi álbum de fotos es muy bonito.
(My photo album is very beautiful.)

Área

Area → Área (AH-reh-a)
Another example of Spanish cognates that start with A and differ only by an accent. Área refers to physical spaces, regions, or thematic areas.

Example sentence:
Esta área del parque es muy grande.
(This area of the park is very big.)

Artificial

Artificial → Artificial (ar-tee-FEE-see-al)
This is one of the smoothest-sounding Spanish-English cognates. Whether you’re talking about artificial intelligence, artificial flowers, or artificial colors, this word stays the same in both languages.

Example sentence:
La inteligencia artificial está avanzando rápido.
(Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly.)

Avatar

Avatar → Avatar (AH-vah-tar)
From gaming profiles to online identities, avatar has the same spelling and meaning in both languages.

Example sentence:
Mi avatar en el juego es azul.
(My avatar in the game is blue.)

Near-Perfect Cognates: Almost, but not quite..

Here are two additional Spanish cognates that start with A. They aren’t perfect matches (they’re “near-perfect”), but they’re close enough that you’ll recognize them instantly.

Adrenalina → Adrenaline

Easy to spot, easy to remember.

Example sentence:
La adrenalina me hace sentir vivo.
(Adrenaline makes me feel alive.)

Adulto → Adult

Just one extra letter at the end.

Example sentence:
Soy un adulto.
(I’m an adult.)

Why Spanish Cognates That Start With A Matter

Spanish and English share thousands of words because both languages have deep Latin roots. When you start noticing Spanish cognates that start with A — or any letter — you build vocabulary faster and gain confidence instantly.

Perfect cognates make Spanish feel more familiar, and they’re a great reminder that you’re not starting from zero.

Next time you read Spanish text, keep an eye out for words you already recognize. You’ll be surprised by how many you already understand — and this list is only the beginning.

Stay tuned for more Spanish words you already know!

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