This 4 page handout and worksheet presents the Spanish-English cognate "la memoria" in depth. It also presents vocabulary related to this particular cognate. Practice exercises included.

1. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 1 of 4
Today’s Spanish-English Cognate
Spanish and English have many similar words known as cognates. These words are constructed with
the same base, or root word, which may come from Latin, Greek, or another language. You can expand
you Spanish vocabulary quickly by using cognates. By studying cognates, you can use your knowledge
of English to help you learn Spanish. Today we will focus on this Spanish-English cognate:
la memoria – memory
As you can see, both words share the root word mem (to remember). Take a look
at the sample sentences and proverbs below. They la memoria in different ways.
Please don’t be overwhelmed by the complexity of the Spanish sentences. The
English translation is provided. Focus on the different forms of la memoria in
each sentence.
Él está padeciendo de pérdida de memoria. (He’s suffering from a loss of memory.)
Los mentirosos deben tener buena memoria. (Liars must have a good memory.)
Mi ordenador tiene 4 giga de memoria. (My computer has 4 gigabytes of memory.)
Has aprendido el poema de memoria. (You have learned the poem by heart.)
Alicia le gusta hacer crucigramas para mejorar la memoria. (Alicia likes to do crossword puzzles to
improve her memory.)
Tenía tan mala memoria que se olvidó de que tenía mala memoria y se acordó de todo.
(He had such a bad memory that he forgot he had a bad memory and he remembered everything.)
Ramón Gómez de la Serna (1891-1963) Spanish author
La memoria es el único paraíso del que no podemos ser expulsados.
(Memory is the only paradise from which we cannot be expelled.)
Jean Paul (1763-1825) German author and humorist
Now, take a few minutes to practice using the different forms of la memoria. Use the Spanish and
English sentences above to complete this exercise. Match the Spanish word with the English word.
_____ de memoria 1. to improve memory
_____ la memoria 2. bad memory
_____ tener buena memoria 3. loss of memory
_____ pérdida de memoria 4. by heart
_____ giga de memoria 5. to have a good memory
_____ mala memoria 6. gigabytes of memory
_____ mejorar la memoria 7. memory
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2. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 2 of 4
Here are some other Spanish words that are related to la memoria.
Verbs
memorizar
(to memorize)
conmemorar
(to commemorate)
Nouns la memoria Adjectives
el memorándum
(memorandum) conmemorativo/
conmemorativa
el memorial (commemorative)
(memorial)
desmemoriado/
la conmemoración desmeoriada
(commemoration) (forgetful)
la memorización inmemorial
(memorization) (immemorial)
la remembranza memorable
(remembrance) (memorable)
Although these words are similar, there are some spelling differences between the Spanish and
English words. Go to page 3 to practice spelling these words.
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Commons License) philip.bitnar, Ethan Hein

3. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 3 of 4
Use the words on page 2 to complete the crossword puzzle in Spanish. The clues are in English. Two
of the Spanish adjectives on the preceding page are shown in both their masculine and feminine
forms. The English clue will indicate whether to use the masculine or feminine form of the Spanish
word in the puzzle. When placing a Spanish noun in the puzzle, be sure to include the definite article
el or la.
7 4
3
2
1 6
e l m e m o r i a l
5
Across Down
1. memorial 2. commemorate
5. remembrance 3. commemorative (feminine)
7. inmemorial 4. memoriize
6. forgetful (masculine)
Unscramble these words and write them on the line provided.
1. al rinómimcoeza _________________________
La memoria es la facultad de
2. al nanoióccezimorm _________________________
recordar.
3. le mráudmnmoe __________________________ (Memory is the ability to remember.)
The answers to the above puzzles are on page 4.
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Commons License) philip.bitnar, Ethan Hein

4. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 4 of 4
The Answers
7 4
i n m e m o r i a l
e
3
c m
o o
2
n c r
1 6
e l m e m o r i a l d
e n z e
o m a s
r
m e m
r m e
a o m
t r o
5
i l a r e m e m b r a n z a
v r i
a a
d
1. al rinómimcoeza __la memoraizción___
2. al nanoióccezimorm __la conmemorización__
3. le mráudmnmoe __el memorándum__
Free Handout – http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts Photos: www.flickr.com (Creative
Commons License) philip.bitnar, Ethan Hein