The parónimas words are those that have a similar pronunciation and / or spelling but whose meanings are different. For example, harsh and stock, stalk and stalk, or cup and cup.
Paronyms never become identical in their writing. Their similarities are basically in terms of their sound. Differences in the pronunciation of the letters / c /; / z /; / v / and / b / in Latin America and Spain can make many paronyms more pronounced in one region than in the other.
This is what happens in the case of the paronyms "spleen" and "vessel". Spanish pronunciation would reduce the likelihood of confusion. On the other hand, knowledge of the Spanish spelling is a factor that would help to recognize some words from others.
In other cases, the differences are virtually imperceptible when it comes to sound. For example, the words "quiet" and "cayado" do not differ with respect to their pronunciation, so it is necessary to take into account the context in which they are being used to determine which one it is.
Paronymous word types
- Paronyms of origin: those words that derive from the same Greek or Latin root but that have different meanings.
- Paronyms by shape: they are words that are very similar in their morphology but differ in their pronunciation.
- Pronunciation Paronyms: these are words whose pronunciation is almost the same, which can be easily confused.
Examples of paronyms
1- Cup and rate. The first refers to the vessel used to drink hot drinks; the second syndicates the relationship between two measures.
2- Aptitude and attitude. They are often confused. Aptitude means that something is fit for a certain task or action; Attitude has to do with the disposition of a person towards a certain situation.
3- Absolve and absorb. Declare someone blameless and "draw and hold on the inside" should not be confused.
4- Abscess and access. The first case has to do with a tissue injury; "Access" means entrance or way.
5- Stalk and stalk. Stalking means "watching carefully, watching"; it is very common to be confused with "stalk" which means "to set up or create snares, deceptions".
6- Collection and collection. In the first case, this word refers to the rough or sour characteristic of an object; the second word refers to a set of goods.
7- Dipper and case. In Latin America the difference in pronunciation would be completely imperceptible. In Spain there would be no major problem. "Cazo" is a verb conjugation to hunt (to chase an animal to catch it) while "Case" can be a verb form of "to marry" or it can refer to a situation or event.
8- Oenology and ethnology. Only one letter distinguishes one from the other. Oenology is the science of wine making. Ethnology is "the science that studies peoples and their cultures"
9- Erro and iron. The first is a form of the irregular verb “errar”, to be wrong; the second refers to the mineral.
10- Breathe out and expire. The first word indicates the action of expelling air during breathing; the latter means "to die."
11- Hundred and temple. The quantity (100) and the sides of the head should not be confused.
12- Prejudice and damage. Prejudice indicates a “prior opinion” about something, without having a thorough knowledge. Prejudice, on the other hand, means "harm", it comes from the verb "harm".
13- Glass and glass. A container to hold liquids; conjugated form of the verb "to base", to support something on a base.
14- Intercession and intersection. The first is the action of “interceding” (advocating for something or someone); the second is a noun that indicates a meeting point between two lines, streets, etc.
15- Learn and apprehend. The action of acquiring knowledge versus the action of taking or capturing someone.
16- Opening and opening. The word "opening" denotes the action of opening or the favorable attitude of a person or entity towards something. Instead, "opening" means hole, hole, orifice.
17- Malla and maya. The first describes a structure made of twisted ropes or threads; the second refers to pre-Hispanic culture.
18- Deer and servant. Deer refers to the animal, also called "deer"; a servant is a servant.
19- Ay y hay. Many times the spelling of the interjection ¡Ay! with the form of the verb "to have", there is.
20- Inflation and infringement. Inflation is the economic concept of the increase in the prices of goods in a certain area. An infraction is a violation of the law.
21- Comprehension and understanding. The first term refers to the action of understanding something; the second to the action of compressing or exerting pressure on an object or material.
22- Acetic and ascetic. Acetic describes what is related to vinegar (acetic acid); ascetic comes from "asceticism" that has to do with the set of norms that are followed to reach a level of full spirituality.
23- Contouring and wiggling. Outline an outline; The second concept is defined as moving the hips or another part of the body when walking.
24- Unveil and reveal. Although in some cases they can be used interchangeably, the word "unveil" also means "prevent sleep."
25- Infringe and inflict. Breaking a law means breaking it, disobeying it. To inflict means "to inflict harm or to impose punishment."
26- Healthy and brackish. The first refers to the healthy status of something. Brackish indicates the condition of “salty, or containing salt”.
27- Hibernate and hibernate. Although both refer to "spending the winter", hibernation highlights the state of rest and decrease in body temperature (in certain animals).
28- Spy and atone. Spying means “secretly observing someone”, while atonement means purifying, erasing guilt.
29- Swedish and clog. From the country of Sweden, the first. Shoe with a cork or wood sole, the second.
30- Hairy and beautiful. The first refers to short hair that covers some parts of the body. The second is an adjective that indicates beauty, grace.
31- Seville and seed. The first is a Spanish city. The second is the grain of the plants.
32- Sheep and bee. Mammalian animal in the first case, flying insect in the second.
33- Apt and act. The first refers to something available or prepared. The second is synonymous with event or meeting.
34- Remunerate and renumber. The first is the payment of a salary. The other means renumbering.
35- Accessible and affordable. Something that can be accessed in the first case, something easy to get or buy in the second.
36- Adopt and adapt. Take a child or a pet as your own and modify something to fit, respectively.
37- Affection and effect. The first means appreciation, the second what is produced due to a cause.
38- Reference and deference. In the first case, it is to quote or refer someone or something. The other case is a show of respect.
39- Immoral and amoral. The first rejects the moral, the second does not know that it exists.
40- Zaguán and San Juan. The hallway is a room prior to the door of a home, while Saint John is a Christian saint.
41- House and hunting. The first is synonymous with home, the second is an activity dedicated to the pursuit of animals with weapons.
42- Sixth and sect. The first term is the one that follows the fifth element and precedes the seventh. The other term refers to an unofficial religious organization.
43- Unscrew and unscrew. Laughing out of control and removing a screw, respectively.
44- Quality and quality. Quality is an indicator of properties of something. Quality is a characteristic trait of someone or something.
45- Watertight and pond. In the first, tobacco is sold, in the second, water is stored for raising aquatic animals.
46- Slab and earthenware. Modified stone for paving floors and any object that makes up a tableware, respectively.
47- Horse and hair. The first is a mammalian animal, the second is the hair located on the head of a person.
48- Dozen and ten. The dozen add up to twelve, the ten add up to ten.
49- Spice and species. The first is a vegetable substance normally applied to the kitchen, the second is a group or category.
50- Rule and laugh. Lead in the first case, emit laughter in the second.
51- Inert and enerte. The first concept refers to something that lacks life, the second is a conjugation of the verb enerter.
52- People and beings. The first is synonymous with people, the second is anything that exists physically or in the imagination.
53- Exhume and vanish. Take a corpse from its grave and escape or disappear, respectively.
54- Create and croak. To give reality to something is to create, the sound that frogs emit is to croak.
55- Addition and addiction. The first case means adding, the second getting hooked on something.
56- Esoteric and exoteric. The first refers to something hidden from the mind, the second to something easy to understand.
57- Answer and context. The first is a conjugation of the verb answer, the second a set of circumstances that shape a situation.
58- Tiger and wheat. Mammalian animal in the first case, cereal in the second.
59- Scrap and waste. A waste is waste that can be disposed of, while waste is something left undone.
60- Cook and sew. The first is the act of turning a food from raw to tender through hot water and the second is the art of joining pieces of fabric to create a garment.
References
- Spanish dictionary. Recovered from: dle.rae.es.
- Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts. Recovered from: bibliodiversidad.com.
- Example of Paronymous Words. Recovered from: examplede.com.
- Introduction to Academic Communication. Recovered from: snna.gob.ec.
- List of paronyms. Recovered from: wikilengua.org.
- Olmos, B. (1990). Homophone and homograph words in Spanish as a consequence of yeísmo. Madrid, CAUCE Journal of Philology and its Didactics.