Using cognates and near-cognates - Near-cognates — AQA GCSE French
Test yourself on Using cognates and near-cognates - Near-cognates with AQA GCSE practice questions.
7 days Premium · Then free forever · No card, no charge
Using cognates and near-cognates - Near-cognates explained
Near-cognates are words that look similar in French and English and share the same meaning, but have slight differences in their spelling.
Read the full explanation
You are expected to recognise and understand these words when you encounter them. The differences often involve the addition of one or more accents in French, such as in the words 'création' (creation) or 'hygiène' (hygiene). Another common difference is the repetition of a letter in French, for example, 'littérature' (literature). For example, 'mâle' (male) differs from English through its circumflex accent. By looking closely at the core of the word and ignoring the minor spelling differences or accents, you can easily deduce the English meaning.
Your focus
- Recognise near-cognates that differ by the addition of accents.
- Identify near-cognates that feature a repeated letter in French.
- Deduce the meaning of slightly altered near-cognates in a written text.
Using cognates and near-cognates - Near-cognates exam tips
Marking Points
- Identify near-cognates that differ from English only by the addition of accents.
- Recognise words that share the same meaning but have a repeated letter in French.
- Deduce the meaning of French words like 'création' and 'hygiène' by ignoring the accents.
- Understand that words like 'mâle' and 'littérature' are near-cognates despite slight spelling variations.
Examiner Tips
- 💡When faced with an unfamiliar word, check if removing accents reveals an English word you know.
- 💡Look out for double consonants in French that might be single in English, or vice versa.
- 💡Use the context of the sentence to confirm if your guess for a near-cognate makes sense.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming a word with an accent is completely different from its English equivalent; instead, look at the core letters to spot the near-cognate.
- Misinterpreting a repeated letter as a sign of a different word; instead, recognise it as a common variation in French spelling.
- Ignoring near-cognates because they look slightly unfamiliar; instead, sound them out or look for the English root.