Simple Definition of cognate

from our Learner's Dictionary

cognate

adjective

ˈkɑːgˌneɪt How to pronounce cognate (audio)
linguistics : having the same origin
English "eat" and German "essen" are cognate.
Spanish and French are cognate languages.

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“Cognate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cognate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

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