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English-German Cognates
Genuine CognatesK

Words that are identical or similar in English and German

ALSO SEE
  > False Cognates (False Friends)
  > Cognate Sound Shifts

Noun Genders: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
Abbreviations: adj. adjective, adv. adverb, Am American English, Br British English, diff. used in a different or limited sense, f.c. false cognate, n. noun, pl. plural, pron. pronounced, v. verb

* = Less obvious cognates that may not closely resemble each other in both English and German, but are cognates
** = Words used in English that come from German

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What's a COGNATE? > Grammar Glossary: C


K

kangaroo r Känguru

kaput kaputt**

karma s Karma

karate s Karate

kayak r Kajak

Kenya s Kenia
Kenyan adj. kenianisch
Kenyan n. r Kenianer/e Kenianerin
   For more countries and nationalities, see: Countries in German

kerosene s Kerosin (jet fuel)

ketchup r/s Ketchup

kettle r Kessel

khaki r Khaki (cloth)

kHz s Kilohertz (kHz)

kidnapper r Kidnapper

kick n. r Kick (soccer)
   The German word Kicker is a false cognate meaning soccer player (Fußballer).

killer r Killer

kilogram s Kilogramm
kilohertz s Kilohertz
   Named for Heinrich Hertz, see: Inventors in German
kilometer r Kilometer
kilowatt s Kilowatt

kindergarten r Kindergarten**

king r König*

kiss r Kuss
kiss v. küssen

kitchen e Küche*

kitsch r Kitsch**
kitschy adj. kitschig**

kiwi r Kiwi (bird)
kiwi e Kiwi (fruit)

kleptomania e Kleptomanie
kleptomaniac r Kleptomane/e Kleptomanin

knee s Knie
knee-length knielang

knot r Knoten

knuckle r Knöchel/r Fingerknöchel

KO r KO (pron. KAH-OH, "knockout")

Koran r Koran

Korea s Korea
Korean adj. koreanisch
Korean n. r Koreaner/e Koreanerin
   For more countries and nationalities, see: Countries in German

Kuwait s Kuwait


NEXT > Cognates: L
BACK > Cognates: J - More English-German cognates
MORE > Cognate Sound Shifts

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German in English > You Already Know German

ALSO > False Cognates (false friends)

MORE > English-German Glossaries on many topics
MORE > Confusing Words and Expressions in German


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