German GCSE
Cognate
What Cognate means in German GCSE, as defined for AQA, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Cognate
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A word that looks and sounds similar in both languages and has the same meaning (e.g., das Haus / house, der Apfel / apple).
A word that looks and sounds similar in both German and English and has the same meaning (e.g., freundlich / friendly).
A word that looks and sounds similar in both English and German and has the same meaning (e.g., Sommer, Winter, blau).
A word that looks and sounds similar in both English and German and has the same meaning (e.g., Musik, intelligent).
A word that looks and sounds similar in two languages and has the same meaning (e.g., der Garten / garden).
A word that looks and means the same in both German and English (e.g., das Recycling, der Tourismus).
Topics that use Cognate
- Theme-based vocabulary (Foundation): Current and future study and employment (AQA GCSE)
- Theme-based vocabulary (Higher): Local, national, international and global areas of interest (AQA GCSE)
- Themes (AQA GCSE)
- Thematic Context: Lifestyle and wellbeing (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Thematic Context: My personal world (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary (greetings, numbers, days, months, seasons, times, colours) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- False Friend
- Modal Verb
- Auxiliary Verb
- Infinitive
- Subordinating Conjunction
- Adjective Agreement
- Reflexive Verb
- Conjugation
Using Cognate in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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