S E C T I O N  .
“Learned” Latin Words
PA R T I I
C L A S S I C A L VO C A B U L A RY
We have seen in Section . that Spanish words of Latin origin can be divided
into two general categories—“learned” or “popular”—according to the degree of restructuring they have undergone. For the native English speaker, the
“learned” words should provide little difficulty, since they are, in the vast majority of cases, similar in both form and meaning to English counterparts.
“Learned” Latin nouns most frequently represent abstract concepts (e.g., nation, division, liberty, virtue). This should come as no surprise: concrete objects
(e.g., finger, knife, bird) are by their very nature far more susceptible to popular
“deformations”.
In this section we will focus on nouns having the following endings:
() -ción
() -sión
() -tad / -dad
() -tud
All of these are feminine nouns. For the first two groups, we will also introduce
related words that have the same base: nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
Numerous other “learned” Latin words will be found in Parts III and IV of
the text, as well as in the annexes.
. Words Ending in -ción
These correspond to English words ending in -tion. In the large majority of
cases, there is an associated verb ending in either -ar or -ir, and very often other
associated nouns, adjectives, and verbs having similar (sometimes identical)
English counterparts. Thus, to centralización correspond:
centralización
—centralizar
—central (adj. & n.f.)
—centro
—centrar
—centrífugo
—centrípeto
centralization
—(to) centralize
—central, headquarters, electric power station
—center, middle
—(to) center
—centrifugal
—centripetal

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—acumulador
while for abolición:
abolición
—abolicionista
—abolir
adaptación
—adaptar
—adaptable
adicción
—adicto (adj. & n.)
abolition, abolishment
—abolitionist
—(to) abolish
English -mption corresponds to Spanish -nción:
asunción
consunción
exención
presunción
redención
assumption
consumption (illness)
exemption
presumption
redemption
[Asunción, Paraguay]
There are more than two thousand -ción nouns. A sample follows:
abdicación
—abdicar
abnegación
abreviación
—abreviar
—abreviatura
absolución
—absolver
abstención
—abstener(se)
—abstinencia
—abstinente
abstracción
—abstracto
—abstraer
aclamación
—aclamar
acumulación
—acumular
abdication
—(to) abdicate
abnegation, self-denial,
altruism
abbreviation, shortening,
abridgement
—(to) abridge, (to) abbreviate,
(to) shorten
—abbreviation (of a word)
absolution, pardon, acquittal
—(to) absolve, (to) acquit
abstention
—(to) abstain
—abstinence
—abstinent
abstraction (incl.
“preoccupation or
absentmindedness”)
—abstract
—(to) abstract, (to) become
absorbed or lost in thought
acclamation, acclaim
—(to) acclaim
accumulation
—(to) accumulate
—adicto al trabajo
adjudicación
—adjudicar
administración
—administrar
—administrativo
—administrador
admiración
—signo de admiración
—admirar
—admirador
—mirador
—mirar
—mirada
—mirón
adopción
—adoptar
—adoptivo
adoración
—adorable
—adorar
adulación
—adular
alienación
—alienar
alteración
—accumulator (esp. UK def.
“storage battery”)
adaptation
—(to) adapt, (to) accommodate
—adaptable
addiction
—addicted, addict, follower
or supporter
—workaholic
adjudication, awarding or
settling by decree
—(to) adjudicate, (to) award
administration, manager’s
office
—(to) administer
—administrative
—administrator
admiration (including
“wonder”)
—exclamation point (¡ . . . !)
—(to) admire
—admirer
—mirador, lookout,
watchtower
—(to) look upon, (to) view
—glance, look
—spectator, onlooker (gen.
pejorative, i.e., “nosy”)
adoption
—(to) adopt
—adoptive
adoration
—adorable
—(to) adore
adulation
—(to) adulate, (to) flatter
alienation (emotional, or of
property)
—(to) alienate, to dispossess
(⬃ enajenar)
alteration, change


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—alterar
ambición
—ambicioso
amplificación
—amplificar
—amplificador (adj. & n.)
amputación
—amputar
anotación
—anotar
aplicación
—aplicar
—aplicado
asimilación
—asimilar
asociación
—asociar
—asociado (adj. & n.)
asunción
—asumir
—asunto
—asuntos exteriores
calificación
—cualificación
—calidad
—cualidad 
—calificar ⬃ cualificar

—(to) alter, (to) disturb,
(to) upset
ambition
—ambitious
amplification
—(to) amplify
—amplifying, amplifier
amputation
—(to) amputate
annotation, note
—(to) annotate, (to) note, (to)
score (⬃ marcar)
application (in most senses
except “request”, “form”)
—(to) apply (in most senses
except “to request”)
—applied, hardworking
assimilation
—(to) assimilate, (to) be
similar to
association
—(to) associate, (to) join
—associated, associate,
member (⬃ socio)
assumption, Assumption (cap.)
—(to) assume
—matter, subject, affair,
business
—foreign affairs
qualification, grade (mark),
rating
—professional qualifications
(for a specific job)
—quality, condition, rank
—quality, property,
characteristic
—(to) qualify (characterize,
rate, etc.)
Cualidad and calidad are, broadly speaking, equivalent. The former applies more to quality
in the sense of property or intrinsic nature, the latter more to quality in the sense of good or bad.
Thus one says: No me gusta la calidad de esta tela; tiene la cualidad de ser muy esponjosa (“I don’t
like the quality of this fabric; it has the quality of being like a sponge”).
—calificado ⬃ cualificado
—calificativo
—cualitativo
celebración
—celebrar
—célebre
—celebridad
certificación
—certificar
—certificado
circulación
—círculo
—circular
—circulatorio
—circuito
—[tortuoso, indirecto]
clasificación
—clase (f.)
—clásico (adj. & n.)
—clasificar
colaboración
—colaborar
—colaborador (adj. & n.)
—colaboracionista
colección
—coleccionar
—coleccionista
—colecta
—colectividad

—qualified (experienced,
authoritative)
—qualifying, expression 
—qualitative
celebration
—(to) celebrate
—celebrated, famous
—celebrity, fame
certification, certificate
—(to) certify
—certified or registered
(mail), certificate
circulation, traffic
—circle
—circular (adj.), circular
(n.f.), (to) circulate
—circulatory (blood),
traffic (adj.)
—circuit, excursion
(returning to initial point)
—circuitous
classification
—class, category
—classical, classic
—(to) classify, (to) arrange
collaboration
—(to) collaborate
—collaborating,
collaborator
(positive sense)
—collaborationist,
collaborator (with enemy)
collection
—(to) collect (stamps,
coins, etc.)
—collector
—collection (of money,
food, etc.)
—collectivity, community

For example: No pudo encontrar calificativos para expresar su enfado (“He was unable to fi nd
the words to express his annoyance”).

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—colectivo
—recolección
colonización
—colonizar
—colonial
—colono
—colonia
—colonialismo
—colonialista
combinación
—combinar
compensación
—compensar
complicación
—complicar
—complicado
concentración
—concentrar
—concéntrico
concepción
—concepto
—concebir
condensación
—condensar
—condensador
—denso
—densidad
confederación
—confederar
configuración
—configurar
confirmación
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—collective, association,
bus (Amer.)
—collection (information,
money, etc.), harvest
colonization
—(to) colonize
—colonial
—colonist, settler, tenant
farmer
—(eau de) cologne, colony
—colonialism
—colonialist
combination, mix, lady’s slip,
cocktail, compound (chem.)
—(to) combine, (to) mix
compensation
—(to) compensate, (to) offset
complication
—(to) complicate
—complicated
concentration
—(to) concentrate
—concentric
conception (idea, fertilization)
—concept, opinion
—(to) conceive (idea, offspring)
condensation
—(to) condense
—condenser
—dense
—density
confederation, confederacy
—(to) confederate
configuration
—(to) configure, (to) shape,
(to) form
confirmation

The perfume cologne owes its name to the French form of the German city Köln, which in
turn comes from the name of the original Latin settlement on the Rhine, Colonia Agrippina
(“Colony of Agrippina”, Agrippina being the mother of the Roman emperor Nero).
—confirmar
confiscación
—confiscar
—fiscal (adj. & n.)
—fisco
congregación
—congregar
conjugación
—conjugar
—conyugal
—cónyuge (m./f.)
connotación
conservación
—conservar
—conservante
—conserva
—conservatorio
—conservador
—conservadurismo
consideración
—considerar
—considerado (p.p.)
—considerable
consolidación
—consolidar
construcción
—construir
—constructivo
—constructor
contaminación
—contaminar
—contaminante (adj. & n.)
—(to) confirm
confiscation
—(to) confiscate
—fiscal, public prosecutor,
district attorney
—fisc (treasury of a kingdom
or state)
congregation
—(to) congregate, (to)
assemble
conjugation
—(to) conjugate
—conjugal
—spouse (⬃ esposo, consorte)
connotation
conservation, preservation
—(to) conserve, (to) maintain,
(to) keep
—preservative
—preserved (canned) food,
conserve
—conservatory
—conservative (adj. & n.),
curator (museum)
—conservatism
consideration
—(to) consider
—considerate, held in high
regard
—considerable
consolidation
—(to) consolidate
construction, building
—(to) construct
—constructive
—construction (adj.), builder,
constructor
contamination, pollution
—(to) contaminate, (to) pollute
—contaminating, polluting,
contaminant, pollutant


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
contemplación
—sin contemplaciones
—contemplar
contrarrevolución
—contrarrevolucionario
contravención
—contravenir
conversación
—conversar
cooperación
—cooperar
—cooperativo (adj.)
—cooperativa (n.)
coordinación
—coordinar
—coordinado
—coordenadas
corroboración
—corroborar
declaración
—declarar
declinación
—declinar
dedicación
—dedicar
definición
—definir
—definido (p.p.)
—indefinido
—definitivo
deformación
—deformar
—deforme
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
contemplation, complaisance
or pampering (pl.)
—harshly, discourteously
—(to) contemplate, (to)
pamper
counterrevolution
—counterrevolutionary
(adj. & n.)
contravention
—(to) contravene
conversation
—(to) converse, (to) chat
cooperation
—(to) cooperate
—cooperative
—cooperative, co-op
coordination
—(to) coordinate
—coordinated, coordinate
(gram.)
—coordinate (math., geog.)
corroboration
—(to) corroborate
declaration, statement,
testimony
—(to) declare, (to) state, (to)
testify
declination (falling off;
astronomical), declension
—(to) decline (diminish;
refuse politely; grammar)
dedication, inscription
—(to) dedicate
definition
—(to) define
—definite
—indefinite
—definitive, conclusive
deformation
—(to) deform, (to) distort
—deformed, misshapen
degradación
—degradar
—degradante
delegación
—delegar
—delegado (p.p.)
desolación
—desolar
—desolador
detección
—detective (⬍ Eng.)
—detectar
—detector
determinación
—determinar
devoción
—devoto (adj. & n.)
dicción
—diccionario
difamación
—difamar
—difamatorio
discriminación
—discriminar
disipación
—disipar
distribución
—distribuir
—distribuidor
—distribuidora
documentación
—documentar
—documento
—documental (adj. & n.)
degradation
—(to) degrade, (to) moderate
in intensity (e.g., light)
—degrading
delegation
—(to) delegate
—delegate
desolation, ruin
—(to) desolate, (to) devastate
—devastating, distressing
detection
—detective
—(to) detect
—detector
determination (act of deciding,
firmness of purpose)
—(to) determine, (to) decide
devotion
—devout, pious, devoted,
devout person
diction, enunciation,
pronunciation
—dictionary
defamation
—(to) defame
—defamatory
discrimination
—(to) discriminate
dissipation
—(to) dissipate
distribution, layout (house
or building)
—(to) distribute
—distributing, distributor
(person [m./f.], car [m.])
—distributor (commercial,
e.g., movies)
documentation
—(to) document
—document
—documentary


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
donación
—donar
—donativo
—don
ebullición
—bullir
edificación
—edificar
—edificante
—edificio
educación
—educar
—educativo
elevación
—elevar
—elevador
eliminación
—eliminar
—eliminatorio
emigración
—emigrar
—emigrante (adj. & n.)
erudición
—erudito (adj. & n.)
evacuación
—evacuar
evaporación
—evaporar
—vapor
—al vapor
—vaporizar
evocación
—evocar
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
donation (act)
—(to) donate, (to) bestow
—donation (what is given),
donative
—gift, talent
ebullition, boiling
—(to) boil, (to) bubble
building (act), edifice,
edification
—(to) build (building or
company), (to) edify (moral)
—edifying (serving as a
good example)
—building, edifice
education, training, breeding
(manners)
—(to) educate, (to) train
—educational, educative
elevation
—(to) raise, (to) elevate
elevator (⬃ ascensor), hoist, lift
elimination
—(to) eliminate
—qualifying or preliminary
(e.g., sports competition)
emigration
—(to) emigrate
—emigrant
erudition
—erudite, learned person
evacuation
—(to) evacuate (incl. “to
defecate”)
evaporation
—(to) evaporate (incl.
“to vanish”)
—vapor, steam, steamboat
—steamed (vegetables, etc.)
—(to) vaporize, (to) evaporate
evocation
—(to) evoke, (to) recall
—evocador
evolución
—evolucionar
—evolutivo
exasperación
—exasperar
excepción
—excepcional
—excepto
—exceptuar
exclamación
—exclamar
exención
—exento
—eximir
exhibición
—exhibir
—exhibicionista
exhortación
—exhortar
exhumación
—exhumar
expectación
—expectativa
explicación
—explicar
—explícito
—inexplicable
exploración
—explorar
—explorador (adj. & n.)
—exploratorio
exportación
—exportar
—exportador (adj. & n.)
exterminación
—evocative
evolution
—(to) evolve
—evolutionary
exasperation
—(to) exasperate
exception
—exceptional
—except, excepting
—(to) except
exclamation
—(to) exclaim
exemption
—exempt, isolated (building,
pillar)
—(to) exempt
exhibition
—(to) exhibit
—exhibitionist
exhortation
—(to) exhort
exhumation, disinterment
—(to) exhume, (to) disinter
expectation (act of expecting,
eager anticipation)
—expectation, hope
explication, explanation
—(to) explicate, (to) explain
—explicit
—inexplicable, unexplainable
exploration
—(to) explore
—exploring, explorer
—exploratory
exportation, export
—(to) export
—exporting, exporter
extermination (⬃ exterminio)

(old p.p.) 
(† eximious)

A number of “irregular” Spanish past participles have been replaced by “regular” ones, with
the “old” form remaining as a separate adjective. See Brodsky (, –).

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—exterminar
—exterminio
extradición
—extraditar
federación
—federar
—federal
felicitación
—felicitar
fermentación
—fermentar
—fermento
ficción
—ficticio
fluctuación
—fluctuar
formación
—formar
—forma
fortificación
—fortificar
frustración
—frustrar
función
—funcionar
—funcional
—funcionario
generación
—generar
—generador (adj. & n.)
germinación
—germinar
—germen
—germen de trigo
humillación
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—(to) exterminate
—extermination
extradition
—(to) extradite
federation
—(to) federate
—federal
felicitation, congratulation,
congratulations (pl.)
—(to) congratulate, (to)
felicitate
fermentation
—(to) ferment
—ferment
fiction
—fictitious
fluctuation
—(to) fluctuate
formation, education, training
—(to) form, (to) educate,
(to) train
—form (shape, manner,
method, etc.)
fortification
—(to) fortify
frustration, disappointment
—(to) frustrate, (to) disappoint
function, performance
(cinema, circus, etc.)
—(to) function
—functional
—functionary, public official,
civil servant
generation
—(to) generate
—generating, (electric) generator
germination
—(to) germinate
—germ
—wheat germ
humiliation
—humillante
—humilde
—humildad
—humillar
identificación
—identificar
—identidad
—idéntico
—ídem
ignición
iluminación
—iluminar
imaginación
—imagen (f.)
—imaginar
—imaginable
—inimaginable
—imaginario
—imaginativo
imperfección
—imperfecto
implicación
—implicar
—implícito
importación
—importar ()
—importar ()
—no (me) importa
—importador (adj. & n.)
—importe
improvisación
—improvisar
—de improviso
imputación
—imputar
—humiliating, humbling
—humble, modest
—humility
—(to) humiliate, (to) humble
identification
—(to) identify
—identity
—identical
—idem, the same, ditto
ignition
illumination
—(to) illuminate, (to)
enlighten
imagination
—image
—(to) imagine
—imaginable
—unimaginable
—imaginary
—imaginative
imperfection
—imperfect
implication
—(to) imply, (to) involve,
(to) implicate
—implicit, implied
importation, import
—(to) import (merchandise)
—important (be important),
(to) be worth
(an amount)
—it doesn’t matter (to me)
—importing, importer
—cost, price, value
improvisation (musical
or otherwise)
—(to) improvise
—unexpectedly, suddenly
imputation, accusation
—(to) impute (charge
with fault)


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
incitación
—incitar
inclinación
—inclinar
incubación
—incubar
—incubadora
indignación
—indignar
—indigno
industrialización
—industrializar
—industrial
—industria
infección
—infectar
—infeccioso
infestación
—infestar
inflación
—inflar
—inflacionario
—deflación (⬍ Eng.)
—desinflar
inhibición
—inhibir
iniciación
—iniciar
—inicial
—iniciativa
—inicio
—iniciático
inspección
—inspeccionar
—inspector
instalación
—instalar
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
incitation, incitement
—(to) incite
inclination, bow, curtsy
—(to) incline (incl. “to
influence”)
incubation
—(to) incubate
—incubator
indignation
—(to) make indignant,
(to) anger
—unworthy
industrialization
—(to) industrialize
—industrial
—industry
infection
—(to) infect
—infectious
infestation
—(to) infest, (to) overrun
inflation
—(to) inflate
—inflationary (⬃ inflacionista)
—deflation (economic)
—(to) deflate
inhibition
—(to) inhibit, (to) abstain
from
initiation, start
—(to) initiate, (to) begin
—initial
—initiative
—beginning, start
—initiating (pert. to initiation
ceremony or ritual)
inspection
—(to) inspect
—inspector
installation
—(to) install
[† indign]
instigación
—instigar
—instigador
instrucción
—instruir
—instructivo
—instructor
insurrección
—insurrecto (adj. & n.)
—insurgente (adj. & n.)
integración
—integrar
—integral (adj. & n.f.)
—íntegro
interpretación
—interpretar
—intérprete (m./f.)
interrogación
—interrogar
—interrogante
—interrogatorio
interrupción
—interrumpir
—interruptor
intervención
—intervenir
—interventor
intimidación
—intimidar
introducción
—introducir
—introductorio
intuición
—intuitivo
instigation, incitement
—(to) instigate, (to) incite
—instigator
instruction, education
—(to) instruct, (to) educate
—instructive
—instructor
insurrection
—insurgent, rebel
—insurgent
integration
—(to) integrate
—integral
—whole, entire, upright
interpretation
—(to) interpret
—interpreter (languages,
actor, musician)
interrogation (one question),
question mark (⬃ interrogante)
—(to) interrogate, (to) question
—questioning, unresolved issue
(m./f.), question mark (m.)
—interrogation (series of
questions)
interruption
—(to) interrupt
—electric switch, light switch,
circuit breaker
intervention, surgical operation
—(to) intervene (in), (to)
operate on (medical)
—auditor, controller, monitor
(elections)
intimidation
—(to) intimidate
introduction
—(to) introduce
—introductory
intuition
—intuitive


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—intuir
inundación
—inundar
investigación
—investigar
—investigador (adj. & n.)
—vestigio
invitación
—invitar
—invitado (adj. & n.)
invocación
—invocar
irritación
—irritar
—irritable
—irritante
lamentación
—lamentar
—lamentable
—lamento
liquidación
—liquidar
—liquidador
—líquido (adj. & n.)
—liquidez
—licuar
—licor
loción
medicación
—médico
—medicamento
—medicina
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—(to) grasp intuitively,
(to) intuit
inundation, flood, flooding
—(to) inundate, (to) flood
investigation, inquiry, research
—(to) investigate, (to) inquire
into, (to) research
—investigating, investigative,
investigator
—vestige, trace, sign
invitation
—(to) invite
—invited (person), guest
invocation
—(to) invoke
irritation
—(to) irritate
—irritable
—irritant
lamentation
—(to) lament
—lamentable
—lament
liquidation, clearance sale,
settlement (debt, account)
—(to) liquidate (debt,
business, person)
—liquidator
—liquid, liquid cash or
(commercial) balance
—liquidity (generally
financial), liquidness
—(to) liquefy, (to) liquate
(metals)
—liquor, liqueur
lotion
medication, treatment
—doctor, physician
—medicament, medicine, drug
—medicine (medication,
branch of science)
—medicinal
meditación
—meditar
memorización
—memorizar
—memoria
—memorias (pl.)
—memorable
—memorial
—memorándum
migración
—migrar
—migratorio
mitigación
—mitigar
moción
—[movimiento]
modernización
—modernizar
—moderno
—modernidad
—modernismo
modificación
—modificar
munición
nación
—nacional
—internacional
—nacionalismo
—nacionalista
—nacionalizar
narración
—narrar
—narrador
—narrativo (adj.)
—medicinal
meditation
—(to) meditate, (to) ponder
memorization
—(to) memorize
—memory, report
—memoirs
—memorable
—memorial (incl. “petition”),
memorandum book
—memorandum, memo
migration
—(to) migrate
—migratory
mitigation, alleviation,
soothing
—(to) mitigate, (to) alleviate,
(to) soothe
motion (supporting a
nomination, of censure, etc.)
—motion (physical), movement
modernization
—(to) modernize
—modern
—modernity
—modernism
modification
—(to) modify
munition, ammunition
(freq. pl.)
nation
—national
—international
—nationalism
—nationalist
—(to) nationalize, (to) naturalize
(grant citizenship)
narration, narrative
—(to) narrate
—narrator
—narrative


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—narrativa (n.)
noción
nominación
—nominar
—nominal
normalización
—normalizar
—normal
—norma
nutrición
—nutrir
—nutritivo
observación
—observar
—observador (adj. & n.)
—observatorio
obstinación
—obstinar(se)
—obstinado (p.p.)
obstrucción
—obstruir
opción
—opcional
—optar
palpitación
—palpitar
—palpitante
—palpar
—palpable
participación
—participar
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—narrative (literary genre incl.
novel and short story)
notion, idea
nomination, naming (to a
position)
—(to) nominate (gen. for a
prize or honor)
—nominal
normalization
—(to) normalize, (to) become
normal
—normal
—norm, rule
nutrition
—(to) nourish, (to) nurture
—nutritive, nutritious,
nourishing
observation
—(to) observe
—observant, observer
—observatory
obstinacy
—(to) be obstinate or
persist (in)
—obstinate
obstruction
—(to) obstruct
option
—optional
—(to) opt, (to) choose, (to)
aspire to (a position)
palpitation, throbbing
—(to) palpitate, (to) throb
—palpitating, throbbing,
burning (e.g., question)
—(to) touch, (to) feel, (to)
palpate
—palpable, evident
participation
—(to) participate, (to) partake
(in or of), (to) notify
—participante (adj. & n.)
—partícipe
—participio
penetración
—penetrar
—penetrante
—impenetrable
percepción
—percibir
—perceptible
—imperceptible
perfección
—perfecto
—perfeccionar
—perfeccionista
perforación
—perforar
perpetuación
—perpetuo
—perpetuar
—perpetuidad
perturbación
—perturbar
—perturbado (adj. & n.)
petición
poción
predilección
—predilecto
preparación
—preparativo (adj. & n.)
—preparar
preservación
—preservar
—preservativo
prestidigitación
—participating, participant
—participant (⬃ participante)
—participle
penetration
—(to) penetrate
—penetrating
—impenetrable
perception, receiving (of
money, rent, etc.)
—(to) perceive, (to) receive
(salary, pension, etc.)
—perceptible
—imperceptible
perfection
—perfect
—(to) perfect
—perfectionist
perforation, drilling, boring
—(to) drill, (to) bore, (to)
perforate
perpetuation
—perpetual
—(to) perpetuate
—perpetuity
perturbation, disturbance
—(to) perturb, (to) disturb
—perturbed, disturbed
(⬃ loco)
petition, (formal) request
potion
predilection, preference
—favorite, preferred
preparation (making ready)
—preparatory, preparation
(something prepared—
gen. pl.)
—(to) prepare, (to) make ready
preservation
—(to) preserve (protect)
—preservative (adj.), condom
prestidigitation (sleight of
hand, magic)


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
presunción
—presumir
—presumido (p.p.)
—presunto (old p.p.)
—presuntuoso
privación
—privar
—privado (p.p.)
proclamación
—proclamar
—proclama
producción
—producir
—producto
—productor (adj. & n.)
—productivo
—productividad
—contraproducente
prohibición
—prohibir
—prohibitivo
prolongación
—prolongar
promulgación
—promulgar
propagación
—propagar
—propaganda
proscripción
—proscribir
—proscrito
provocación
—provocar
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
presumption
—(to) presume or surmise,
(to) be vain or conceited
—conceited, vain
—presumed, presumptive
—presumptuous, pretentious
privation, deprivation
—(to) deprive
—private, favorite of the
king (m.)
proclamation
—(to) proclaim
—proclamation, public notice
(e.g., marriage banns)
production
—(to) produce
—product (also
mathematical), result
—producing, producer
—productive
—productivity
—counterproductive
prohibition
—(to) prohibit
—prohibitive
prolongation, extension
—(to) extend, (to) prolong
promulgation (official
publication of law or decree)
—(to) promulgate
propagation
—(to) propagate, (to) spread
—advertising, propaganda
proscription, exile
—(to) proscribe, (to) banish,
(to) exile
—exile, outlaw, proscribed
person
provocation
—(to) provoke, (to) incite
—provocador (adj. & n.)
—agente provocador
—provocativo
recepción
—recepcionista
—receptivo
—receptor (adj. & n.)
—recibir
—recibo
—recipiente
recitación
—recital
—recitar
reconstrucción
—reconstruir
rectificación
—rectificar
redención
—redimir
—redentor (adj. & n.)
(old p.p.)
reducción
—reducir
refutación
—refutar
reiteración
—reiterar
—iteración
—iterativo
remuneración
—remunerar
reparación
—reparar
—provoking, provocative,
provoker
—(agent) provocateur
—provocative
reception (delivery, hotel
lobby, ceremony with guests)
—receptionist
—receptive
—receiving, receiver, recipient
(transplant, message)
—(to) receive
—receipt
—container, receptacle
recitation, public reading
(poetry)
—recital
—(to) recite
reconstruction
—(to) reconstruct
rectification (correction,
conversion of AC to DC)
—(to) rectify (correct,
convert AC to DC)
redemption
—(to) redeem (self, property),
(to) ransom
—redeeming, redeemer,
Savior (cap.)
reduction
—(to) reduce
refutation
—(to) refute
reiteration
—(to) reiterate
—iteracion
—iterative
remuneration
—(to) remunerate
repair, reparation
—(to) repair, (to) notice
[recipient]


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—reparo
repetición
—repetir
—repetitivo
reproducción
—reproducir
reputación
—reputar
revocación
—revocar
satisfacción
—satisfacer
—satisfecho
—satisfactorio
saturación
—saturar
sección
—sector
—intersección
—segmento
sedición
segregación
—segregar
selección
—seleccionar
—selectivo
—selectividad
—selecto
sensación
—sensacional
separación
—separar
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—repair, objection, qualm
repetition
—(to) repeat, (to) reiterate
—repetitive
reproduction, imitation
or copy
—(to) reproduce
reputation
—(to) esteem, (to) repute
revocation, annulation
—(to) revoke, (to) plaster or
paint (exterior wall)
satisfaction
—(to) satisfy
—satisfied
—satisfactory
saturation
—(to) saturate, (to) fi ll up
section, cross-section
—sector, area
—intersection
—segment
sedition
segregation, secretion
—(to) segregate, (to) separate,
(to) secrete
selection
—(to) select
—selective
—selectivity
—select, exclusive
sensation
—sensational
separation
—(to) separate, (to) move
apart, (to) sever 
—separado
—separable
—inseparable
simulación
—simular
sublimación
—sublimar
—sublime
—subliminal
tradición
—tradicional
transcripción
—transcribir
transformación 
—transformar
—transformador
transición
—tránsito
—transitorio
—transitar
(old p.p.)

The confusion in the spelling of separate (versus *seperate) goes back to Classical Latin days.
The plebs preferred *seperate, and it was this form that gave rise to French sevrer and thence to
English sever. Separate is a “learned” English word formed directly from the original (“correct”)
Latin past participle. Similarly, separable and several are etymologically the same word.
—transitivo
—intransitivo
unificación
—unificar
—unión
—unir
—desunión
usurpación
—usurpar
utilización
—utilizar
—utilitario (adj. & n.)
—utilidad
—útil (adj. & n.)

—separate, separated
—separable
—inseparable
simulation
—(to) simulate
sublimation, exaltation
—(to) sublimate, (to) exalt
—sublime
—subliminal
tradition
—traditional
transcription
—(to) transcribe
transformation
—(to) transform
—transforming, (electrical)
transformer (m.)
transition
—transit, traffic, stopover
—transitory
—(to) walk (along public
streets), (to) transit
—transitive
—intransitive
unification
—(to) unify
—union
—(to) unite, (to) join
—disunion, discord
usurpation
—(to) usurp
utilization, use
—(to) utilize, (to) use
—practical, small (economy
class) car
—utility, usefulness, profit
—useful, utile, tool

These words (and those in the succeeding group) can also be spelled with an initial tras-,
although the trans- forms (preferred by the RAE) are by far the more common.

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
vacilación
—vacilar
vegetación
—vegetal (adj. & n.)
—vegetar
—vegetariano (adj. & n.)
veneración
—venerar
—venerable
vibración
—vibrar
—vibrador (adj. & n.)
vocación
—vocacional
votación
—votar
—voto
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
vacillation, hesitation,
unsteadiness
—(to) vacillate
vegetation, (enlargement of)
adenoids (pl.)
—vegetal, vegetable (adj.),
plant
—(to) vegetate
—vegetarian
veneration
—(to) venerate
—venerable
vibration
—(to) vibrate, (to) quiver
—vibrating, vibrator
vocation
—vocational
voting, balloting
—(to) vote
—vote, vow

those ending in -cción, it is -ct, while for those having “reduced” endings in
-ción, it is simply -t:
Two subgroups bear special mention—those corresponding to English -jection
and to (other words ending in) -ction.
(a) For English words ending in -jection, there are three possible endings in
Spanish: -jección, -jeción, or -yección
interjectivo (rare)
interjectional (pertaining to interjections)
objetar
—objeto
—objetivo
—objetividad
sujetar
—sujeto
—sujetador
—subjetivo
—subjetividad
(to) object
—object
—objective
—objectivity
(to) subject, (to) grasp, (to) hold
—(securely) attached, subject (adj. & n.)
—brassiere (⬃ sostén)
—subjective
—subjectivity
abyecto
eyectar
—eyector
abject
(to) eject
—ejector (firearm; pump using jet of
water, air, or steam)
(to) inject
—injector
—injectable
(to) project, (to) cast, (to) plan
—project, plan
—projector, spotlight
—projectile
inyectar
—inyector
—inyectable
proyectar
—proyecto
—proyector
—proyectil
(old p.p.)
Also:
interjección
interjection
objeción
sujeción
objection
subjection
abyección
deyección
eyección
inyección
proyección
abjection, abjectness
droppings (excrement), defecation
ejection
injection
projection
trayecto
—trayectoria
(b) Other English words ending in -ction correspond to Spanish words ending
in -cción:
[dejection ]
Related words—verbs, nouns, and adjectives—maintain the -j or -y and follow
a very specific pattern with regard to the interior consonant combination: for

course, route, distance, journey
—trajectory
One of the defi nitions of English dejection is “Evacuation of the intestinal tract; defecation”.
acción
confección
constricción
corrección
destrucción
elección
fricción
inducción
predicción
action, share (stock market)
confection, dressmaking, tailoring
constriction
correction, correctness
destruction
election, choice
friction, rubbing
induction, inducement
prediction

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
protección
succión
transacción
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
protection
suction
transaction, compromise
. Words Ending in -sión
These correspond to English words ending in -sion or -ssion. In the large majority of cases, there is an associated verb—generally ending in -ar or -ir—and
often additional related “classical” forms having similar (sometimes identical)
English counterparts. Thus, to English depression correspond:
depresión
—depresivo
—deprimir 
—deprimente
depression (physical, mental, economic)
—depressive
—(to) depress
—depressing
In a number of cases, as noted in Section ., the corresponding verb has a stem
consonant of -d or -t rather than -s; for example,
transgresión
—transgredir
—transgresor
dimisión
—dimitir
transgression
—(to) transgress
—transgressor
demission, resignation
(of an office)
—(to) resign, (to) demit
—admisible
—inadmisible
circuncisión
—circuncidar
cohesión
—coherencia
—coherente
—incoherente
comisión
—comisionar
—comisario
—comisaría
compasión
—compasivo
compresión
—comprimir
compulsión
—compulsivo
—compulsa
—compulsar
There are approximately  Spanish -sión nouns, including:
adhesión
—adhesivo
—adherir
—adherente (adj.)
—adherencia
admisión
—admitir
adhesion
—adhesive
—(to) adhere (to a surface
or a belief)
—adherent (sticking or
holding fast)
—adhesiveness, adherence
admission, acceptance
—(to) admit, (to) accept
(entry)

Spanish -primir corresponds to English -press (deprimir comes from Latin deprimere,
whose past participle depressus gave rise, via French, to English depress).
—compeler
concesión
—conceder
concusión
confesión
—confesar
—confeso
—confesor
—confesionario,
confesonario
contusión
conversión
—admissible
—inadmissible
circumcision
—(to) circumcise
cohesion
—coherence, consistency
—coherent (orderly, logical),
consistent
—incoherent (lacking
cohesion), inconsistent
commission (act of doing, fee,
committee)
—(to) commission, (to)
delegate
—commissioner (e.g., of
police), commissary (deputy)
—police station,
commissioner’s office
compassion
—compassionate
compression
—(to) compress
compulsion
—compulsive
—certified copy (legal)
—(to) certify a copy of a
document
—(to) compel, (to) force
concession, grant
—(to) concede, (to) grant
concussion
confession
—(to) confess
—confessed, self-confessed,
converted (Jew)
—confessor (priest who hears
confession)
—confessional box
contusion, bruise
conversion, transformation
(old p.p.)


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—convertir
—converso
convulsión
—convulsivo
difusión
—difundir
—difuso
digresión
discusión
—discutir
—discutible
dispersión
—dispersar
—disperso
disuasión
—disuadir
—disuasivo
diversión
—divertir
—divertido (p.p.)
—ser divertido
—estar divertido
—diverso
—diversidad
—diversificación
—diversificar
efusión
—efusivo
emisión
—emitir
erosión
—erosionar
exclusión
—excluir
—exclusivo (adj.)
—exclusiva (n.)
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—(to) convert, (to) transform
—converted (to Christianity,
esp. Jew or Muslim), convert
convulsion
—convulsive
diff usion, transmission
—(to) diff use, (to) spread,
(to) broadcast
—diff use, vague
digression
discussion, argument
—(to) discuss, (to) argue
—debatable, arguable
dispersion, scattering
—(to) disperse, (to) scatter,
(to) rout (mil.)
—dispersed, scattered
dissuasion
—(to) dissuade
—dissuasive
diversion, amusement
—(to) divert, (to) amuse
—diverting, amusing, fun
—(to) be funny
—(to) be amused
—diverse, different, various
—diversity
—diversification
—(to) diversify
eff usion (outpouring of liquid
or feeling)
—eff usive
emission, broadcast
—(to) emit, (to) broadcast
erosion
—(to) erode
exclusion
—(to) exclude
—exclusive
—exclusive (news
story, right)
(old p.p.)
—exclusive (adv.)
—hasta el capítulo doce
exclusive
excursión
expansión
—expandir
—expansivo
explosión
—explosionar
—explosivo
—explotar ()
—explotar () 
—explotación
(old p.p.)
expresión
—expresar
—expresivo
—inexpresivo
—expreso (adj. & n.)
—exprimir
(old p.p.)
expulsión
—expulsar
extensión
—extender
—extenso
—extensible
fisión
—fisura
fusión
—fusionar
impresión
—impresionante
—impresionar
—not including, exclusive of
—up to but not including
chapter 
excursion, trip, tour
expansion, relaxation
—(to) expand, (to) extend
—expansive
explosion
—(to) explode
—explosive (adj. & n.m.),
(ex)plosive (n.f.)
—(to) explode
—(to) exploit
—exploitation (of a mine,
of a person)
expression
—(to) express
—expressive
—inexpressive
—expressed, express, special,
express (train)
—(to) squeeze, (to) wring out,
(to) express (juice)
expulsion
—(to) expel, (to) eject
extension, expanse, spreading
(e.g., fire)
—(to) extend, (to) write out
or draw up (check, deed, etc.)
—extensive, vast
—extensible, extendible
fission
—fissure
fusion, melting, merger
—(to) fuse, (to) merge
impression, printing
—impressive
—(to) impress

(old p.p.)
(old p.p.)

Explotar () comes from French exploiter (source of English exploit) and has nothing to do
with explosión.

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—impresionismo
—impresionista
—imprimir
—impreso (adj. & n.)
—impresor
—impresora
—imprénta
—prensa
—prensar
impulsión
—impulso
—impulsar
—impulsivo
incisión
—incisivo (adj. & n.)
inclusión
—incluir
—incluso
—incluso los franceses
—inclusa
—inclusivo (adj.)
—inclusive (adv.)
—hasta el  de marzo
inclusive
incursión
—incurrir
infusión
—infundir
intrusión
—intruso (adj. & n.)
inversión
—invertir
—inverso
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—impressionism
—impressionist
—(to) print, (to) imprint
—printed, booklet, printed
matter
—printer (person)
—printer (machine)
—printing, print shop
—press (vise, hydraulic,
printing); “the
press”
—(to) compress, (to) squeeze
impulsion, impulse, drive
—impulse, impetus,
momentum
—(to) impel, (to) drive,
(to) prompt
—impulsive
incision
—incisive, sharp, incisor
(tooth)
inclusion
—(to) include
—including, even
—even the French
—foundling home
—inclusive
—inclusive, including
—up to and including the
seventh of March
incursion
—(to) incur, (to) commit
(fault, crime)
infusion
—(to) infuse
intrusion
—intrusive, intruder,
unauthorized practitioner
inversion, investment
—(to) invert, (to) invest
—inverse, inverted, opposite
(old p.p.)
[imprint]
—inversionista ⬃ inversor
mansión
omisión
—omitir
—omiso
opresión
—opresivo
—opresor (adj. & n.)
—oprimir
pasión
—pasional
—apasionar
—apasionado
—apasionante
pensión
—pensionista
(old p.p.)
(old p.p.)
(old p.p.)
—pienso
persuasión
—persuadir
—persuasivo
perversión
—pervertir
—perversidad
—perverso
precisión
—preciso
—imprecisión
—impreciso
—precisar
presión
—presionar
profesión
—profesional
—investor
mansion
omission
—(to) omit
—careless, remiss
oppression
—oppressive
—oppressing, oppressor
—(to) oppress, (to) press
(button), (to) pinch (clothes)
passion
—passionate (e.g., crime),
passional
—(to) impassion, (to) appeal
deeply to
—impassioned, passionate
—captivating, gripping,
exciting
pension (payment, boardinghouse, room and board)
—boarder, pensioner
(recipient of pension)
—feed (pensión for livestock)
persuasion
—(to) persuade
—persuasive
perversion
—(to) pervert
—perversity
—perverse, wicked, perverted
precision, necessity
—precise, necessary
—imprecision
—imprecise
—(to) express precisely, (to)
require
pressure
—(to) press, (to) exert
pressure on
profession
—professional


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
—profesar
—profesor
progresión
—progresar
—progreso
—progresivo
—progresista (adj. & n.)
propulsión
—propulsar
provisión
—provisional
repercusión
—repercutir
represión
—represivo
—reprimir
—reprimenda
repulsión
—repulsa
—repulsivo
—repeler
—repelente
subversión
—subvertir
—subversivo
supresión
—suprimir
suspensión
—suspender
—suspenso (adj. & n.)
—en suspenso
—suspense (⬍ Eng.)
tensión
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
—(to) profess (incl. “practice
a profession”, “teach”)
—professor, teacher
progression
—(to) progress
—progress
—progressive (that which
progresses)
—progressive (point of view,
e.g., political party)
propulsion
—(to) propel, (to) push
forward
provision, supply
—provisional
repercussion, impact
—(to) affect, (to) reverberate
repression
—repressive
—(to) repress, (to) restrain
—reprimand
repulsion, repugnance
—repulse (rejection, refusal)
—repulsive, repellent
—(to) repel, (to) repulse
—repellent (adj. & n.),
repulsive
subversion
—(to) subvert
—subversive
suppression
—(to) suppress, (to) abolish,
(to) leave out
suspension
—(to) suspend, (to) hang, (to)
fail (an exam)
—suspended, perplexed,
failing mark
—in suspense, pending
—suspense
tension (incl. electric), stress,
blood pressure
—tensar
—tenso
transfusión
—transfundir
transmisión
—transmitir
—transmisible
—transmisor
versión

—(to) tense, (to) tighten
—tense, tight, taut
transfusion
—(to) transfuse
transmission
—(to) transmit
—transmissible
—transmitting, transmitter
(radio, TV—m.)
version (incl. “translation”)
English -tortion corresponds to Spanish -torsión, as in:
contorsión
—contorsionista
—contorsionar(se)
distorsión
—distorsionar
extorsión
—extorsionar
torsión
contortion
—contortionist
—(to) contort
distortion
—(to) distort
extortion
—(to) extort
torsion, twisting
. Words Ending in -dad and -tad
These generally correspond to English nouns ending in -ty. The overwhelming
majority—more than one thousand—end in -dad, and fewer than twenty end
in -tad. Apart from mitad, the -tad ending always follows a consonant, while
the -dad ending can follow either a consonant or a vowel:
consonant ⴙ -tad
vowel ⴙ -dad
consonant ⴙ -dad
libertad
fraternidad
crueldad
(a) Words Ending in -tad
(old p.p.)
This is the list of all of the -tad words in common use:
amistad
deslealtad
dificultad
enemistad
amity, friendship
disloyalty
difficulty
enmity, hostility
liberty
fraternity
cruelty

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
facultad
lealtad
libertad
majestad
mitad
potestad
pubertad
tempestad
voluntad
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
faculty (capacity, division of a university)
loyalty
liberty
majesty
half, middle, moiety 
power, jurisdiction
[rare potestas]
puberty
tempest, storm
will, disposition
[† volunty]
(b) Words Ending in -dad
credibilidad
crueldad
debilidad
dignidad
discontinuidad
disparidad
divinidad
electricidad
entidad
extremidad
fraternidad
generalidad
The following is a sampling of words ending in -dad:
actividad
adversidad
agilidad
amabilidad
ancianidad
activity
adversity
agility
amiability, kindness, niceness
old age
animosidad
anormalidad
ansiedad
antigüedad
autenticidad
banalidad
bondad
brevedad
brutalidad
calamidad
capacidad
caridad
cavidad
animosity
abnormality
anxiety
antiquity, seniority,
antique (gen. pl.)
authenticity
banality
goodness, kindness
brevity
brutality
calamity
capacity, ability
charity
cavity (non-dental)
celebridad
complicidad
constitucionalidad
celebrity, fame
complicity
constitutionality
generosidad
hostilidad
humanidad
[ancient,
† ancienty]

Now rare in the primary meaning of “a half ”, “a part”, “a portion”, English moiety has found
renewed life in anthropology as “Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that
together make up a tribe or society”.
humedad
imposibilidad
inferioridad
infinidad
ingenuidad
integridad
legalidad
maldad
maternidad
mediocridad
monstruosidad
moralidad
nacionalidad
necesidad
oscuridad /obsparcialidad
paridad
paternidad
personalidad
pluralidad
popularidad
posibilidad
posteridad
prioridad
credibility
cruelty
debility, weakness
dignity, rank
discontinuity
disparity
divinity
electricity
entity
extremity, limb
fraternity
generality (incl. “the
majority”)
generosity
hostility
humanity, mankind,
humaneness, humanities (pl.)
humidity, moisture, dampness
impossibility
inferiority
infinity
ingenuousness, naiveté
integrity
legality
wickedness, maliciousness
maternity, motherhood
mediocrity
monstrosity
morality
nationality
necessity
darkness, obscurity
partiality
parity
paternity, fatherhood
personality
plurality, diversity
popularity
possibility
posterity
priority


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
probabilidad
profundidad
publicidad
puntualidad
radiactividad
realidad
regularidad
relatividad
religiosidad
responsabilidad
senilidad
serenidad
sexualidad
simplicidad
sociedad
solemnidad
solidaridad
superioridad
tonalidad
tranquilidad
trinidad
trivialidad
unidad
uniformidad
universalidad
universidad
vaguedad
vanidad
verdad
viabilidad
visibilidad
volatilidad
“ L E A R N E D ” L AT I N W O R D S
probability
depth, profundity
publicity, advertising
punctuality
radioactivity
reality
regularity
relativity
religiosity, religiousness
responsibility
senility
serenity
sexuality
simplicity
society
solemnity
solidarity
superiority
tonality
tranquillity
trinity
triviality
unity
uniformity
universality
university
vagueness, imprecision
vanity, conceit
truth, verity
viability, feasibility
visibility
volatility
amplitud
aptitud
beatitud
decrepitud
disimilitud
exactitud
gratitud
inexactitud
ingratitud
inquietud
juventud
lasitud
latitud
laxitud
lentitud
longitud
magnitud
multitud
plenitud
pulcritud
quietud
rectitud
senectud
similitud
solicitud
vicisitud
virtud
amplitude, breadth, spaciousness
aptitude
beatitude, blessedness
decrepitude
dissimilitude, dissimilarity
exactitude, precision, accuracy
gratitude
inexactitude, inexactness, inaccuracy
ingratitude, ungratefulness
inquietude, worry, restlessness
youth
lassitude, weariness
latitude
laxity, laxness
slowness
length, longitude
magnitude
multitude
plenitude, fullness
neatness, tidiness, cleanliness
quietude, stillness, tranquillity
rectitude, honesty, straightness
senectitude (old age)
similitude, similarity (⬃ semejanza)
request, application (form), solicitude
vicissitude
virtue, quality, capacity

[juvenile]
[lento ]
[pulchritude]
A relatively small number of Spanish words that “should” end in -tud instead
end in -dumbre, e.g., certidumbre, corresponding to English certitude (see Section ., no. ).
. Words Ending in -tud
These frequently correspond to English words ending in -tude. The most commonly used words are probably:
acritud
actitud
acridity, acrimony
attitude, posture
[† acritude]

Lento means “slow” in both Spanish and English, though in English it is restricted to a musical sense (cf. also English lentamente and lentissimo).
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
SEC TION . 
“Learned” Greek Words
cylindrus
cynicus
Classical Latin had a large repertoire of words taken from Greek. This base was
added to substantially in the early Christian era and again during the Renaissance. Some Greek words passed to Spanish directly, most via Latin. Almost
without exception, if an English word is recognizably “Greek”, it has an equally
recognizable counterpart in Spanish with identical (or at least very similar)
meaning.
The passage from Greek to Spanish was anything but chaotic (caótico). The
principal noncatastrophic orthographical metamorphoses, at least metaphorically (metafóricamente), of the Hellenic lexicon (léxico helénico) were:
(a) Y became Spanish i
(b) PH, CH, RH, TH became Spanish f, c, r, t
(c) MPH became Spanish nf
(d) S ⫹ consonant became Spanish es ⫹ consonant (see Section .)
dynastia
etymologia
gyrare
hyaena
hybrida
hygieina
hyperbola
hyperbole
hypothesis
Y S i
abyss(m)us
abismo
abismal
crystallus
cristal
cristalizar
cristalización
cristalino
ciclo
cíclico
ciclismo
ciclista
cyclus
abysm, abyss
abysmal (unfathomable,
enormous)
crystal, glass, windowpane
(to) crystallize
crystallization
crystalline, transparent
cycle
cyclical
cycling
cyclist

Latin y corresponds to Greek u, whose pronunciation over time changed from [u] to [y]—
essentially a “rounded” i, as in French u or German ü—to [i]. It is with this last value that “classical” Greek words are generally pronounced in Spanish and the other Romance languages and
in English, while German has preserved the [y] pronunciation. Some Spanish words have maintained the “original” u (e.g., tufo vs. tifus in Annex D); also English cumin and cube (Spanish
comino and cubo).
hystera (“womb”)
idyllium
lyra
myopia
mysterium
mythologia
odyssea
olympicus
ciclón
reciclar
reciclaje
cilindro
cilíndrico
cínico (adj. & n.)
cinismo
dinastía
etimología
girar
gira
giro
girasol
hiena
híbrido
higiene (f.)
higiénico
hipérbola
hipérbole (f.)
hipótesis
hipotético
hipotecar
hipoteca
histeria
histérico
idilio
idílico
lira
lírica
lírico
miopía
miope
misterio
misterioso
mitología
mitológico
mito
odisea
olímpico

cyclone
(to) recycle, (to) retrain
recycling, retraining
cylinder
cylindrical
cynical, cynic
cynicism
dynasty
etymology
(to) gyrate, (to) turn, (to) spin
excursion, tour (e.g., musicians)
gyration, change in direction,
money order
girasol, sunflower
hyena
hybrid
hygiene
hygienic, sanitary
hyperbola (geometric figure)
hyperbole (exaggerated statement)
hypothesis
hypothetical
(to) hypothecate, (to) mortgage
mortgage
hysteria (⬃ histerismo)
hysterical, hysteric (m./f.)
idyll, romance, love affair
idyllic
lyre
lyric poetry
lyrical, lyric
myopia, nearsightedness
myopic, myope (nearsighted
person—m./f.)
mystery
mysterious
mythology
mythological
myth
odyssey
Olympic

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
paralysis
pyramidem
syllaba
syllabus
symbiosis
symbolum
symmetria
sympathia
symptoma
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
olimpiada, -íada
parálisis
paralizar
pirámide (f.)
sílaba
sílabo
simbiosis
símbolo
simbólico
simbolismo
simbolizar
simetría
simétrico
asimetría
asimétrico
simpatía
simpático
syncope
síntoma (m.)
sintomático
síncope
syndicatus
sindicato
syndrome
synonymus
synthesis
syntheticus
systema
typhon
tyrannus
síndrome
sinónimo (adj. & n.)
síntesis
sintético
sistema (m.)
tifón
tirano
tiranía
tiránico
Olympiad, Olympics (pl.)
paralysis
(to) paralyze
pyramid
syllable
syllabus
symbiosis
symbol
symbolic
symbolism
(to) symbolize
symmetry
symmetric, symmetrical
asymmetry
asymmetric, asymmetrical
sympathy, congeniality
likable, congenial, sympathetic
(music, physiology)
symptom
symptomatic
syncope (med.), fainting spell,
blackout
syndicate (association), labor
union
syndrome
synonymous, synonym
synthesis
synthetic
system
typhoon
tyrant (also tyrannical)
tyranny
tyrannical
PH S f
apostrophe
apostrophus
asphaltus
apóstrofe (m./f.)
apóstrofo
asfalto
asfaltar
apostrophe (rhetorical)
apostrophe (punctuation)
asphalt
(to) pave with asphalt
asphyxia
atmosphaera
atrophia
blasphemare
catastrophe
diaphanus
diaphragma
elephantem
ephemeros
epitaphium
euphemismos
euphoria
geographia
hemisphaerium
metamorphosis
metaphora
nympha
paraphrasis
peripheria
phaenomenon
phantasia
phantasma
pharmacia
pharos
pharynx
phasis
philanthropia
phil ⫹ ateleia
philologia
philosophia
phobia
asfixia
atmósfera
atmosférico
atrofia
blasfemar
catástrofe (f.)
catastrófico
diáfano
diafragma (m.)
elefante
efímero
epitafio
eufemismo
euforia
geografía
hemisferio
metamorfosis
metáfora
ninfa
paráfrasis
parafrasear
periferia
periférico
fenómeno
fenomenal
fantasía
fantástico
fantasma (m.)
farmacia
faro
farol
farola
faringe (f.)
fase (f.)
filantropía
filatelia
filología
filosofía
filosófico
filósofo
fobia
asphyxia, suffocation
atmosphere
atmospheric
atrophy
(to) blaspheme, (to) curse
catastrophe
catastrophic
diaphanous, clear, transparent
diaphragm
elephant
ephemeral
epitaph
euphemism
euphoria
geography
hemisphere
metamorphosis
metaphor
nymph
paraphrase
(to) paraphrase
periphery
peripheral
phenomenon
phenomenal
fantasy
fantastic
phantasm, phantom (fantom), ghost
pharmacy
pharos (lighthouse), headlight
lantern, streetlamp
large streetlamp (e.g., highway)
pharynx
phase
philanthropy
philately (stamp collecting)
philology
philosophy
philosophical
philosopher
phobia


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
phoenix
phosphorus
phrasis
phrenesis
phreneticus
physica
physiognomia
physiologia
propheta
sema ⫹ phoros
sphaera
sphinx (acc.
sphingem)
tele ⫹ phone
trophaeum
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
xenofobia
fénix
fósforo
fosforescente
frase (f.)
frenesí
frenético
física
físico
metafísica
fisonomía
fisiología
profeta (m.)
profecía
profético
profetizar
semáforo
esfera
esfinge (f.)
xenophobia
phoenix
phosphorus, match (for igniting)
phosphorescent
phrase, sentence
frenzy
frenetic, frantic, frenzied
physics
physical, physique (m.), physicist (m./f.)
metaphysics
physiognomy, features, face
physiology
prophet
prophecy
prophetic
(to) prophesy
semaphore, traffic light (stoplight)
sphere, dial or face (e.g., watch)
sphinx
teléfono
telefónico
guía telefónica
telefonista
telefonear
trofeo
telephone
telephonic, telephone (adj.)
telephone book
telephone operator
(to) telephone (⬃ llamar por teléfono)
trophy
antipático
archaicus
athleta
autochthon
bibliotheca
catholicus
chaos
character
charisma
chimaera
chirurgia
chorus
christus
chronicus
CH S c (or qu ), RH S r, TH S t
aestheticus
amphitheatrum
anaesthesia
anthologia
antipathia
estético
estética
anfiteatro
anestesia
anestésico
antología
antipatía
aesthetic / esthetic
aesthetics / esthetics
amphitheater, dress circle
anesthesia
anesthetic
anthology
antipathy, dislike

The c changes to qu when followed by e or i (see Section ., no. ), as in quimera, quirúrgico,
monarquía, oligarquía, psique. Cirugía and cirujano (like English surgery and surgeon) represent
a more “popular” evolution.
diarrhea
dichotomia
arcaico
atleta (m./f.)
atlético
atletismo
autóctono
(adj. & n.)
biblioteca
católico
caos
carácter
carisma (m.)
quimera
quimérico
cirugía
cirujano
quirúrgico
quirófano 
coro
coral ()
coral  ()
Cristo
crónico
crónica
cronista
cronología
cronológico
anacronismo
anacrónico
diarrea
dicotomía
unpleasant, disagreeable,
antipathetic
archaic
athlete
athletic
track and field, athletics (UK)
autochthonous (indigenous),
autochthon
library, bookcase
Catholic, catholic (universal)
chaos
character (pl. caracteres )
charisma
illusion, pipe dream, chimera
chimeric(al)
surgery
surgeon
surgical
operating room, surgical
amphitheater
chorus, choir
choral, chorale (f.)
coral
Christ
chronic, long-standing
chronicle, article (newspaper)
chronicler, reporter
chronology
chronological
anachronism
anachronistic
diarrhea
dichotomy

[bible]

Carácter is one of only three words in Spanish in which the stressed syllable of the plural
is not the same as in the singular: ca•rác•ter versus ca•rac•te•res. (The others are es•pé•ci•men
[pl. es•pe•cí•me•nes] and ré•gi•men [pl. re•gí•me•nes].)

Th is arose as a cross between quirúrgico and diáfano (“diaphanous”), referring to the fact
that the transparent windows of the surgical amphitheater permitted others to observe the operation from outside.

Th is word has a different origin from the musical forms, coming from Greek korallion (Latin
corallium).

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
diphthongus
echo
enthusiasmus
diptongo
eco
entusiasmo
entusiasta
entusiasmar
epocha
ethnicus
euthanasia
labyrinthus
marathon
mathematica
mechanicus
entusiasmado
(p.p.)
época
étnico
etnia
eutanasia
laberinto
maratón (m./f.)
matemática
matemático
pantheon
mecánico
mecánica
mecanismo
mecanizar
mecanización
melancolía
melancólico
método
metódico
monarca (m.)
monarquía
monárquico
oligarquía
oligárquico
oligarca (m.)
ornitología
ortografía
ortopedia
ortopédico
panteón
parenthesis
psyche
paréntesis (m.)
psique (f.)
melancholia
methodus
monarcha
oligarchia
ornithologia
orthographia
ortho ⫹ paideia
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
diphthong
echo
enthusiasm
enthusiastic, enthusiast or
fan (m./f.)
(to) provoke enthusiasm,
(to) captivate
enthused, enthusiastic
epoch, era, time
ethnic
ethnic group
euthanasia
labyrinth, maze
marathon
mathematics (gen. pl.)
mathematical, mathematician
(m./f.)
mechanical, mechanic (m./f.)
mechanics (science)
mechanism
(to) mechanize
mechanization
melancholy (n.), melancholia
melancholic, melancholy (adj.)
method
methodical
monarch
monarchy
monarchist, royalist
oligarchy
oligarchic, oligarchical
oligarch
ornithology
spelling, orthography
orthopedics
orthopedic
pantheon, Pantheon, (family)
tomb, mausoleum
parenthesis
psyche
rhapsodia
rhetorica
rheumaticus
rhinoceros
(-ontem)
rhododendron
rhythmus
technologia
tele ⫹ pathia
theatrum
theologia
theoria
therapia
thronus
psiquiatra
(m./f.)
psiquiatría
rapsodia
retórica
retórico
reumático
reuma, reúma
(m./f.)
rinoceronte
psychiatry
rhapsody
rhetoric
rhetorical, rhetorician (m./f.)
rheumatic
rheumatism (⬃ reumatismo)
rododendro
ritmo
rítmico
rima 
rimar
tecnología
técnica
técnico
telepatía
teatro
teología
teoría
terapia
trono
entronizar
rhododendron
rhythm
rhythmic, rhythmical
rhyme, short poem (pl.)
(to) rhyme, (to) versify
technology
technique, technics
technical, technician (m./f.)
telepathy
theater
theology
theory
therapy
throne
(to) enthrone

psychiatrist
rhinoceros
MPH S nf
amphibios
emphasis
symphonia
anfibio
énfasis (m.)
enfático
enfatizar
sinfonía
amphibious, amphibian (m.)
emphasis
emphatic
(to) emphasize
symphony

The ultimate origin of rima / rhyme is debated. Some see it as representing a “popular”
deformation of rhythmus, others as having a Germanic source, with the English spelling subsequently being influenced by rhythm (rime remains an accepted variant of rhyme).

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
Note that Greek -ia (and Latin -ia) has often become English -y: dynasty, pharmacy, etc. Similarly:
aristocracia
autopsia
controversia
democracia
energía
epilepsia
genealogía
modestia
orgía
parodia
penuria
aristocracy
autopsy
controversy, debate
democracy
energy
epilepsy
genealogy
modesty
orgy
parody
penury
“Post-Classical” (non-Greek) examples include:
artillería
batería
lotería
artillery
battery (elec., mil., music: percussion), kitchen utensils
lottery
In about half of such words, the stress accent falls on the -i (an•to•lo•gí•a,
sin•fo•ní•a), which therefore has a written accent, while in the remainder the
stress is on the preceding syllable and the -ia is pronounced as a diphthong
(far•ma•cia, pe•ri•fe•ria).
ps became s in
psalmus
salmo
psalm
but has remained in words like pseudónimo, psoriasis, psiquiatría, psicoanálisis,
psicología, and psicopático. These are also frequently found without the initial p.
Among the more common Greek endings are the following:
() -logía / -lógico / -logo
() -grafía / -gráfico / -grafo
() -sis / -tis
() -ema / -oma
() -tico / -tica

. -logía / -lógico / -logo
The standard pattern is shown below corresponding to English biology and geology: the Spanish noun (feminine) ends in -logía, the adjective in -lógico (feminine: -lógica), and the “performer” in -logo (feminine: -loga).
biología
geología
biológico
geológico
biólogo
geólogo
biology
geology
biologic(al)
geologic(al)
biologist
geologist
Note that in Spanish the word stress falls on a different syllable in each of the
three words: for the adjective and the performer, the same syllable is stressed as
in English, while for the “subject”, the stress is moved forward two syllables:
geología
geológico
geólogo
Spanish
English
ge•o•lo•gí•a
ge•o•ló•gi•co
ge•ó•lo•go
ge•ol•o•gy
ge•o•log•i•cal
ge•ol•o•gist
There are several words for which the performer is a -logista rather than a -logo /
-loga:
apologista
ecologista 
etimologista
genealogista
mineralogista
apologist
ecologist
etymologist
genealogist
mineralogist
Note that Spanish apología makes use of the secondary English definition “formal justification or defense”, rather than the more common “acknowledgment
expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense”. Hence an apologista
is “one who defends by argument”, rather than “one who offers or asks for
forgiveness”.

Ecólogo (-loga) also exists, but is relatively rare.
Spanish in fact conserves the “original” meaning: the fi rst use in English with the sense of
“expressing regret” is attributed to Shakespeare ().

Th is is the defi nition of English apologist as well, where the emphasis is on defending and
justifying—an “apologist for slavery” defended the practice rather than asking for forgiveness.


CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
Other words following the biología—biológico—biólogo pattern include:
analogía 
antropología
arqueología
astrología
cardiología
cosmología
criminología
dermatología
embriología
entomología
espeleología
fi lología
fisiología
geología
ginecología
ideología
meteorología
odontología
paleontología
patología
psicología
radiología
sociología
tautología
tecnología
teología
terminología
toxicología
urología
zoología
analogy
anthropology
archaeology
astrology
cardiology
cosmology
criminology
dermatology
embryology
entomology
speleology
philology
physiology
geology
gynecology
ideology
meteorology
odontology, dentistry
paleontology
pathology
psychology
radiology
sociology
tautology
technology
theology
terminology
toxicology
urology
zoology
As in English, there are a few -logo words referring not to a performer but to an
object:
catálogo
decálogo
diálogo
catalog(ue), list
Decalog(ue), Ten Commandments
dialog(ue)

Análogo means “analogous” (adj.) rather than “one who makes analogies”, while analógico
means “analog”.
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
epílogo
monólogo
prólogo

epilog(ue), recapitulation
monolog(ue)
prolog(ue), preface
Two groups of words follow a similar pattern, but end with -gogo rather than -logo:
demagogia
pedagogía
demagógico
pedagógico
demagogo
pedagogo
demagogy
pedagogy
demagogic(al) demagogue
pedagogic(al) pedagogue
Note that demagogia (de•ma•go•gia) has a different stress compared to pedagogía and the -logía words, while both demagogo (de•ma•go•go) and pedagogo
(pe•da•go•go) are stressed differently from the -logo words.
. -grafía / -gráfico / -grafo
This is analogous to -logía / -lógico / -logo: the Spanish noun (feminine) ends
in -grafía, the adjective in -gráfico (feminine: -gráfica), and the performer in
-grafo (feminine: -grafa). The standard pattern is shown below corresponding
to English biography and geography:
biografía
geografía
biográfico
geográfico
biógrafo
geógrafo
biography
geography
biographic(al)
geographic(al)
biographer
geographer
There are a few cases where -grafo refers to an instrument rather than a person,
e.g.,
(electro)cardiógrafo
cinematógrafo
telégrafo
(electro)cardiograph
movie projector, movie theater, cinematograph
telegraph
The operator of a telégrafo is a telegrafista. Other examples following the “normal” pattern include:
bibliografía
caligrafía
cartografía
coreografía
criptografía 
bibliography
calligraphy
cartography
choreography
cryptography

Criptógrafo (“cryptographer”) doesn’t exist (according to the DRAE and Moliner), but is
nonetheless occasionally found.

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
dactilografía
fotografía
demografía
lexicografía
mecanografía
oceanografía
paleografía
pornografía
taquigrafía
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
typewriting
photography, photograph
demography
lexicography
typewriting (⬃ dactilografía)
oceanography
paleography
pornography
stenography, shorthand
[dactylography]
A point of frequent confusion for native English speakers is that a fotógrafo is a
“photographer”, not a “photograph”. A “photo” is una fotografía or, more commonly (especially in the spoken language), una foto.
. -sis / -tis
analysis
apocalypse
emphasis
ecstasy
oasis
parenthesis
psychoanalysis
The plurals, for both feminines and masculines, are identical to the singulars.
Other examples (all feminines) are:
-tis (medical terms, all feminine)
apendicitis
artritis
bronquitis
conjuntivitis
dermatitis
gastritis
hepatitis
laringitis
meningitis
sinusitis
appendicitis
arthritis
bronchitis
conjunctivitis
dermatitis
gastritis
hepatitis
laryngitis
meningitis
sinusitis
. -ema / -oma
-sis
antítesis
arteriosclerosis, -esclerosis
cirrosis
crisis
diagnosis (⬃ diagnóstico)
dialysis
dose, dosage
electrolysis
genesis, origin, Genesis (m., cap.)
hypnosis
hypothesis
osteoporosis
prognosis, prognostication
prosthesis (med.), prothesis (gram.)
synopsis, abstract, summary
synthesis
overdose
thesis
tuberculosis
Many of these nouns have corresponding adjectives ending in -tico (no.  below), e.g., antitético, crítico, and hipnótico.
Words with -sis and -tis endings are nouns, the vast majority of which are feminine. The only exceptions (i.e., masculines) among commonly used words are
the following: 
análisis (m.)
apocalipsis (m.)
énfasis (m.)
éxtasis (m.)
oasis (m.)
paréntesis (m.)
psicoanálisis (m.)
diálisis
dosis
electrólisis
génesis
hipnosis
hipótesis
osteoporosis
prognosis (⬃ pronóstico)
prótesis
sinopsis
síntesis
sobredosis
tesis
tuberculosis

antithesis
arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries
cirrhosis
crisis
diagnosis (medical)

In addition, there are a few masculines among the relatively small number of non-Greek
-sis / -tis words (see Annex A).
These are nouns, the large majority of which are masculine, in marked contrast
to the general Spanish rule that nouns ending in -a are feminine. In the lists
below, masculine nouns are shown first.
-ema
anatema (m./f.)
cinema (m.)
anathema
cinema, movie theater
(short form: el cine)

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
dilema (m.)
ecosistema (m.)
edema (m.)
emblema (m.)
enema  (m.)
enfisema (m.)
esquema (m.)
fonema (m.)
lema (m.)
poema (m.)
problema (m.)
sistema (m.)
tema (m.)
teorema (m.)
dilemma
ecosystem
edema (inflammation due to fluid
accumulation)
emblem
enema
emphysema
scheme, outline, sketch
phoneme
lemma, motto
poem
problem
system
theme
theorem
crema
diadema
estratagema
flema
gema 
—yema
cream
diadem (a crown worn as a sign of royalty)
stratagem, deception, trick
phlegm, calmness, imperturbability
gem, precious stone, gemma (bud)
—bud, yolk, gemma
aroma
axiom
carcinoma
coma
chromosome
diploma
genome
glaucoma
hematoma, bruise

There is some confusion concerning the gender of enema: until , the RAE differentiated
between the “traditional” enema, which was feminine, and a second defi nition of “astringent and
drying substance used on wounds”, which was masculine. Since , all enemas, of whatever
type, have (at least according to the RAE) been masculine.

Gem is of Latin rather than Greek origin, coming from Latin gemma (“bud”, hence—due to
the similarity in form and color—“precious stone”). Yema is the corresponding “popular” Spanish word.

idioma (m.)
melanoma (m.)
síntoma (m.)
language
melanoma
symptom
[idiom]
broma 
—abrumar
—abrumador
coma ()
—comillas (pl.)
goma
paloma 
poma
joke, jest
—(to) overwhelm or crush
—overwhelming, crushing, oppressive
comma
—quotation marks
gum, rubber, rubber band, eraser
dove, pigeon
pome, apple (botanical), perfume box
[bromide]
. -tico / -tica
Words ending in -tico are of both Greek and Latin origin. They are almost always masculine adjectives with corresponding feminines ending in -tica. In
many cases, they can also be used as nouns, e.g.,
also:
-oma
aroma (m.)
axioma (m.)
carcinoma (m.)
coma () (m.)
cromosoma (m.)
diploma (m.)
genoma (m.)
glaucoma (m.)
hematoma (m.)
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
diplomático (adj.)
el diplomático (n.m.)
la diplomática (n.f.)
diplomacia
diplomatic
the diplomat (masculine)
the diplomat (feminine)
diplomacy, tact
Very rarely (e.g., gramático, pronóstico), words ending in -tico are nouns rather
than adjectives. A more frequent occurrence is an abstract feminine noun ending in -tica, e.g., acústica.
For all of these words there is a written accent on the preceding vowel, e.g.,
diplomático (pronounced di•plo•má•ti•co).
A sampling of these words (adjectives, unless otherwise indicated) is given
below:
acróstico
acuático
acústico
adriático
acústica (n.f.)
acrostic (adj. & n.m.)
aquatic
acoustic, acoustics (n.f.)
Adriatic

English bromide and bromine come from Greek bromos (“stench”), while Spanish broma
likely comes from a closely related Greek word meaning “rottenness”.

Paloma and poma are of Latin, not Greek, origin.

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
agnóstico
alfabético
analítico
anecdótico
antártico
antibiótico
antidemocrático
antiestético
antipático
antipatriótico
antisemítico
antiséptico
antitético
apático
apocalíptico
apolítico
aristocrático
aritmético
aromático
ártico
artístico
ascético
asiático
asmático
atlántico
atlético
auténtico
autocrático
automático
báltico
caótico
característico
carismático
catedrático (n.m.)
cáustico
céltico
ciático
cibernético
cosmético
analítica (n.f.)
aritmética (n.f.)
ascética (n.f.)
característica (n.f.)
catedrática (n.f.)
ciática (n.f.)
cibernética (n.f.)
cosmética (n.f.)
“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
agnostic (adj. & n.m./f.)
alphabetical
analytic, analytical, analytics (n.f.)
anecdotal, anecdotic
antarctic [the continent is gen.
Antártida]
antibiotic (adj. & n.m.)
undemocratic
un(a)esthetic, ugly
antipathetic, disagreeable
unpatriotic
anti-Semitic
antiseptic (adj. & n.m.)
antithetical, opposing
apathetic
apocalyptic
apolitical
aristocratic
arithmetical, arithmetic (n.f.)
aromatic
arctic
artistic
ascetic, asceticism (n.f.)
Asiatic (adj. & n.m./f.), Asian
asthmatic (adj. & n.m./f.)
Atlantic
athletic
authentic
autocratic
automatic
Baltic
chaotic
characteristic (adj. & n.f.)
charismatic
professor (UK: chair)
caustic (adj. & n.m.)
Celtic, Celtic language (n.m.)
sciatic, sciatica (n.f.)
cybernetic, cybernetics (n.f.)
cosmetic (adj. & n.m.),
cosmetology (n.f.)
cósmico
críptico
crítico
crítica (n.f.)
cromático
cuadrático
democrático
diagnóstico
didáctico
didáctica (n.f.)
diurético
dogmático
doméstico
dramático
dramática (n.f.)
drástico
eclesiástico
elástico
emético
energético
energética (n.f.)
—enérgico
enfático
enigmático
epiléptico
erótico
errático
escéptico
escolástico
escolástica (n.f.)
estadístico
estadística (n.f.)
estático
estético
estilístico
ético
exótico
estática (n.f.)
estética (n.f.)
estilística (n.f.)
ética (n.f.)

erótica (n.f.)

cosmic
cryptic
critical, critic (n.m./f.), critique/
criticism (n.f.)
chromatic
quadratic
democratic
diagnostic (adj. & n.m.), diagnosis
(n.m.)
didactic, educational, didactics
(n.f.)
diuretic (adj. & n.m.)
dogmatic
domestic (adj. & n.m./f.)
dramatic, dramatist or actor/
actress (n.m./f.), dramatic arts (n.f.)
drastic, medicinal purge (n.m.)
ecclesiastical, ecclesiastic (n.m.)
elastic (adj. & n.m.)
emetic (adj. & n.m.)
pertaining to energy, science of
energy (n.f.)
—energetic (possessing or
displaying energy)
emphatic
enigmatic
epileptic (adj. & n.m./f.)
erotic, erotica (n.f.)
wandering, vagrant, erratic
skeptical, skeptic (n.m./f.)
scholastic (adj. & n.m./f.),
Scholasticism (n.f.)
statistical, statistician
(n.m./f.), statistics (n.f.)
static (adj.), statics (n.f.)
esthetic (adj.), esthetics (n.f.)
stylistic, stylistics (n.f.)
ethical, ethics (n.f.)
exotic
The Spanish noun for “static” is interferencia or parásitos (“parasites”).

CL ASSICAL VOCABUL ARY
fanático
farmacéutico
flemático
fonético
genético
gimnástico
gótico (adj. & n.m.)
fonética (n.f.)
genética (n.f.)
gimnástica (n.f.)
gramático (n.m.)
gramática (n.f.)
hermético
hipnótico
hipotético
informático
lingüístico
logístico
magnético
místico
informática (n.f.)
lingüística (n.f.)
logística (n.f.)
mística (n.f.)
monolítico
narcótico
neolítico
neumático
neurótico
numismático
numismática (n.f.)
onomástico
onomástica (n.f.)
óptico
óptica (n.f.)
paleolítico
patético
patriótico

“LEARNED” GREEK WORDS
fanatical, fanatic (adj. & n.m./f.)
pharmaceutical, pharmacist
(n.m./f.)
phlegmatic, unemotional
phonetic, phonetics (n.f.)
genetic, genetics (n.f.)
gymnastic, gymnastics (n.f.) 
Gothic (style, people,
language, print)
grammarian (n.m./f.), grammar
(n.f.)
hermetic, airtight
hypnotic, sleeping pill (n.m.)
hypothetical
data processing (adj.), computer
expert (n.m./f.), computer
science (n.f.)
linguistic, linguistics (n.f.)
logistical, logistics (n.f.)
magnetic
mystical, mystic (n.m./f.),
mysticism (n.f.)
monolithic
narcotic (adj. & n.m.)
Neolithic (adj. & n.m.)
pneumatic, tire (n.m.)
neurotic (adj. & n.m./f.)
numismatic, numismatist (n.m./f.),
numismatics (n.f.)
onomastic, onomastics (n.f.),
saint’s day (n.f.)
optic, optical, optician (n.m./f.),
optics (n.f.), optical shop (n.f.)
Paleolithic (adj. & n.m.)
pathetic
patriotic
For “gymnastics”, gimnasia is more common (gimnasio is “gymnasium”).
peripatético
plástico
plástica (n.f.)
poético
político
poética (n.f.)
política (n.f.)
práctico
práctica (n.f.)
pragmático
pragmática (n.f.)
problemático
problemática (n.f.)
pronóstico (n.m.)
quiropráctico (n.m.)
quiropráctica (n.f.)
reumático
rústico
sarcástico
semántico
sintético
sintomático
sistemático
socrático
táctico
teorético
transatlántico
traumático
viático (n.m.)
semántica
táctica (n.f.)

peripatetic (Aristotelian),
ridiculous or outlandish
plastic (adj. & n.m.), plastic
arts (n.f.)
poetic, poetics (n.f.)
politic, political, in-law,
politician (n.m./f.), politics
(n.f.), policy (n.f.)
practical, practiced (i.e., skillful),
harbor pilot (n.m.), practice (n.f.)
pragmatic, interpreter of the laws
(n.m./f.), pragmatics (n.f.) 
problematic, collective
problems (n.f.)
prognosis, prognostic, prediction
chiropractor (n.m./f.),
chiropractic (n.f.)
rheumatic (adj. & n.m./f.)
rustic (adj. & n.m./f.)
sarcastic
semantic, semantics (n.f.)
synthetic
symptomatic
systematic
Socratic
tactical, tactician (n.m./f.),
tactics (n.f.)
speculative, theoretical 
transatlantic, (ocean) liner (n.m.)
traumatic
viaticum, travel allowance

English peripatetic normally means “walking about from place to place; traveling on foot”,
a meaning not shared by Spanish peripatético. Both words maintain the formal (original) definition “of or relating to the philosophy of Aristotle, who conducted discussions while walking
about in the Lyceum of ancient Athens”.

See Section ..

Pragmatics means “the study of language as it is used in a given context”. Spanish
pragmática (n.f.) has a second defi nition as well, analogous to that of English pragmatic sanction:
“an edict or a decree issued by a sovereign that becomes part of the fundamental law of the land”.

Teórico is far more common, as the use of teorético in the sense of “theoretical” is widely
viewed as an anglicismo.

Latin viaticum is also the origin of both English voyage and Spanish viaje.