Similarities Between English and Spanish

In addition to providing access to limitless opportunities, learning a new language can improve your cognitive functioning. According to research, learning a new language helps one’s brain function, memory, and creativity. However, learning without comprehending the differences and similarities between English and Spanish, or the one you speak most often, is crucial for mastering the new language. 

Interestingly, on Earth, where there are 7.8 billion people, 1.35 billion of them speak English. That is more than 15% of everyone on the planet! On the other hand, there are roughly 486 million Spanish speakers worldwide. Let’s examine both the similarities and the differences between English and Spanish in more detail while keeping in mind the tremendous demand for both languages and the vast opportunities.

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English vs Spanish

1. English is more similar to German and Dutch while Spanish is more similar to Portuguese and Italian. However, compared to any of the Russian, Mandarin, or Polish languages, Spanish and English have a closer relationship with one another. 
2. The Roman alphabet is used for both languages. A foundation in phonetics and phonology can be built using this knowledge.
3. Between thirty and forty percent of all English terms have a Spanish cognate. These cognates, which have similar sounds, appearance, and meaning, aid pupils in transferring their word knowledge into their second language.
4. As opposed to English and Chinese or other non-Latin derived languages, sentences in both languages share identical basic frameworks, with the notable exception of a few word order differences (adjective before a noun in English and noun before an adjective in Spanish).
5. The fundamental steps in learning to read and write—phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, comprehension, and writing mechanics—are the same for both languages.

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English and Spanish Pronunciation and Alphabet

Have you ever questioned why English and Spanish share so many words? Despite the apparent distinctions between the two languages, learning Spanish is made simpler for native English speakers due to the similarities between English and Spanish. Let’s examine the pronunciation and alphabetical features of both languages in more detail.

Similarities

The most obvious linguistic connection between English and Spanish is that both languages use the Latin alphabet. A version of the Greek script, commonly known as the Roman alphabet, is today used to write hundreds of other languages.

Differences

The English language’s typical Latin alphabet contains 26 letters, but the Spanish alphabet (includes ) has 27. In addition, the English language has 44 phonemes, or distinct spoken sounds, compared to “only” 25 in Spanish. What a surprise, huh? English has more speech sounds to learn than Spanish does. 

When it comes to pronunciation, Spanish is a simple language in comparison to English. Each letter has a distinct sound that it always makes when spoken, almost. For instance, the letter “e” in English can be pronounced as “ee,” “eh,” or “er,” to mention just a few possibilities, whereas the letter “e” in Spanish always sounds like “eh.” 

Also Read: 10 Ways to Say Goodbye in Spanish

English vs Spanish: Grammar

Cognates

There are many words that are similar in both the Spanish and English languages, which makes them easier to grasp. This is one of the fundamental similarities between the two languages. A number of publications have also been created that list all the words that are similar in both languages as well as how they are utilised. It’s also important to note that many Spanish words have an ending that has an equivalent English word. For instance, the English words that end in “action” are represented by all the Spanish nouns that finish in “acion.” Additionally, Spanish words that end in “ologia” are equivalent to English words that end in “ology.”

Parts of Speech

The use of parts of speech in sentences is one of the key similarities between Spanish and English. These verbal components of speech also include prepositions, adjectives, verbs, and nouns. It’s also important to note that the part of speech is employed similarly in English and Spanish. That is, in both lines, a verb denotes a doing word or set of actions. One of the most significant differences is that the arrangement is different. Additionally, the S is added at the end of the sentences in both Spanish and English to make the plural form.

Also Read: Parts of Speech

Dialects and Accents

Accents and dialects show how a language sounds when spoken by a native speaker as opposed to how it sounds when spoken to a speaker of a different language. It is crucial to specify that different languages and accents are likely to show up when the same language is spoken from the perspective of a native and second language speaker. This situation is comparable to that of English and Spanish, where the Spanish spoken in Spain differs from the Spanish spoken in other areas of the world in terms of certain words and letters. English is a good example of this, with notable differences between American English and English spoken in England. 

Also Read: Learn 50 most common words in Spanish

Sentence Structure

One of the biggest parallels between Spanish and English is this. The standard sentence form in both languages is subject + verb + object. 

For example: 

El perro come carne. 

The dog eats meat. | Subject: el perro, dog | Verb: come, eats | Object: carne, meat 

Even though this is the most typical pattern, sentences are not always written in the same way. You shouldn’t be amazed if occasionally the subject follows the verb in a Spanish sentence. 

People from different backgrounds, ethnic groups, and languages are interacting more than ever before in today’s fast-paced, technologically advanced globe. One of the most crucial elements in order to stand out in a crowd is knowing the benefits of learning many languages. 

We hope this blog has helped you better comprehend the connections and contrasts between the English and Spanish languages. 

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