A Comparative
Vocabulary Study Guide
Spanish to English to Portuguese
Una Guía de Estudios Comparativa del Vocabulario
Español, Inglés y Portugués
Highlighting over 5,000 selected Spanish words that have
either the same spelling and meaning as their English
and Portuguese language counterparts or contain easily
recognizable English and Portuguese meanings.
Destacando más de 5,000 palabras seleccionadas en
Español que tienen, ya sea la misma ortografía y
significado que su contraparte en Inglés y Portugués
fácilmente reconocibles.
Destacando mais de 5.000 palavras selecionadas
em Espanhol que tem a mesma ortografia e
significado como a sua contraparte em Inglês
e Português facilmente reconhecível.
Robert D. O’Brian
Melbourne, Florida
2012
Copyright 2012 Robert D. O'Brian,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by NewBookPublishing.com
Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-939748-52-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012936555
Published by
NewBookPublishing.com, a division of Reliance Media, Inc.
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
The contents of this work including, but not limited to, the accuracy of events, people, and places depicted; opinions expressed; permission to use previously published materials included; and any advice given or actions advocated are solely the responsibility of the author, who assumes all liability for said work and indemnifies the publisher against any claims stemming from publication of the work.
For Joseph, Rosie, Grace, Carlos and Mark
with special thanks to Mechel and Maria Cristina
Introduction
This guide is alphabetical, A through Z, with each letter comprising a separate listing, further divided into three sections: words that are interchangeable among the three languages; nouns, adjectives and adverbs that contain easily recognizable and equivalent meanings; and, verbs with easily recognizable and equivalent meanings.
Spanish is the language base for this guide. The Spanish listings are followed by their English definitions which include all relevant English meanings. Portuguese is then matched to the Spanish listings and their English definitions, for example:
The Spanish word > JUSTICIA, justice, equity, fairness
^
The English definition
The Portuguese word > JUSTICIA
This guide’s primary purpose is to provide English speaking students of Spanish and Portuguese with a quick and resourceful vocabulary base. Conversely, the guide’s design will introduce Spanish and Portuguese speaking students to the English or the Spanish or the Portuguese vocabulary. And appendix appearing and page 359 contains computer and internet terms in the three languages.
Not all possible words that fit this guide’s purpose are listed. Only the most obvious and useful words were selected. The student is given space in the guide to augment the listings with additional words of particular interest, making this guide a personal workbook.
All Spanish words are given the general or specific meanings of Spanish currently spoken in Argentina. The Portuguese is that which is currently spoken in Brazil.
Spanish is the language to which the English definitions and the equivalent Portuguese are compared.
Following are pronunciation guides for Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Spanish Pronunciation Guide fo English speakers
The vowels a, e, and o are "strong" vowels, i and u are "weak". When two vowels fall together the following applies: if the word has an accent mark, then that syllable is stressed (cóncavo, enfermería); a weak + strong combination belongs to one syllable with the stress falling on the strong vowel (cauto, caliente); a weak + weak combination belongs to one syllable with the stress falling on the second vowel (construir, cuidado); and, a strong + strong combination is divided into two syllables.( aca-rre- ar, co-rre-a )
A: as the a in father
B,v: when found at the beginning of a word or following a consonant, these are pronounced as a b. Otherwise, they have a sound which falls somewhere between the English b and v sounds.
C: before a consonant or a, o, or u, as the c in cat; before e or i as an s
CH: as the ch in church
D: as the English d except between vowels and following l or n where it is pronounced as the th in this
E: for a syllable ending in a vowel, as the e in they; for a syllable ending in a consonant, as the e in get
F: as the f in for
G: before e or i, as the Spanish j; otherwise as the g in get
H: silent
I: as i in machine
J: as an h but stronger; silent when at the end of a word
K: as the k in kilo
L: as an l in lee
LL: as the y in you. However, in Argentina it is pronounced as sh in shoe
M: as an m in mother
N: as an n; except where it appears before a v, as an m
Ñ: as the n in onion
O: for a syllable ending in a vowel, as the o in vote; for a syllable ending in a consonant, as the o in pot
P: as a p in pot
Q: as a k; always followed by a silent u
R: pronounced with a strong trill at the beginning of a word and following an l, n, or s; very little trill when at the end of a word; and medium trill in other positions
RR: strongly trilled
S: before consonants b, d, g, l, m, n, as a z; otherwise as an s
T: as a t
U: as the u in rule; silent after q and in the groups gue and gui
V: see b, v
W: usually pronounced as a v
X: when between vowels, as the x in box; before a consonant, as an s
Y: when used as a vowel, such as in the words y and voy, it is pronounced as the Spanish i. As a consonant it is pronounced as Y in yes
Z: as