This 4 page handout and worksheet explores the Spanish-English cognate el balance-balance. Includes practice exercises.

1. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 1 of 4
Today’s Spanish-English Cognate – el balance
Spanish and English have many similar words known as cognates. These words 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:
el balance - balance
These words have evolved into their present bal form from the Latin word root bi which means two.
Their Latin meaning has to do with two things being in harmony or balanced. El balance is a Spanish
masculine noun.
Take a look at the sample sentences below. They use el balance 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 el balance in each sentence.
Es difícil mantener el balance en las calles cubierto de hielo. (It’s difficult to maintain your balance on
icy streets.)
Tiene sentido que pagues el balance de tú tarjeta de crédito todos los meses. (It makes sense to pay
off your credit card balance each month.)
El contador tiene el balance listo. (The accountant has the balance sheet ready.)
Es difícil mantener Tiene sentido que El contador tiene
el balance en las pagues el balance de tú el balance listo.
calles cubiertas de tarjeta de crédito todos
hielo. los meses.
Practice
Fill in the blanks of each sentence from above.
Es difícil ____________________ _______ ____________________ en las calles cubierto de hielo. (It’s difficult to
maintain your balance on icy streets.)
Tiene sentido que pagues _____ ____________________ _____ tú ____________________ _____ ____________________
todos los meses. (It makes sense to pay off your credit card balance each month.)
El contador tiene _____ ____________________ listo.
Free Handout – http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts Photos: www.flickr.com (Creative Commons License) Pahz,
moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.

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 el balance.
verbs balancear - to balance
balancearse - to become balanced
resbalar - to slide
nouns el balancín - rocking chair
la balanza - blancing scale
el resbalón - slide
adjectives resbaladizo/resbaladiza - slippery
resbaloso/resbalosa - slippery
Free Handout – http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts Photos: www.flickr.com (Creative Commons License) Pahz,
moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.

3. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 3 of 4
Practice
Write the letter of the correct match next to each word. The answers are on page 4.
_____ balancearse a. rocking chair
_____ la balanza b. slide
_____ el balance c. to become balanced
_____ resbaladiza d. slippery (masculine)
_____ el resbalón e. to slide
_____ resbaloso f. slippery (feminine)
_____ el balancín g. balance
_____ resbalar h. balancing scale
_____ balancear j. to balance
Unscramble the words. The answers are on page 4.
a r c e a b a a s b
a b l n r e l e l r
na e c s a r a
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
Solve the word search puzzle. Find the words in the box. The answers are on page 4. The
answers can appear horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forwards and backwards.
N H C W V N B C B Z J M D J N
O Í B C P V Y B L L P R V S Ó EL BALANCÍN
EL RESBALÓN
T I C O Z I D A L A B S E R L LA BALANZA
W Z E N Y R Q X Q E A V D Y A RESBALADIZO
U G X X A H V C Q O Z A G A B RESBALOSA
B T N C G L A F A J M N R T S
O Y N Z S Z A Z X H A T K Q E
H I Q H J C N B Q P R T B G R
M S S F X A J Y L E O H A R L
W Z C C L F N Y J E Z V O I E
X R J A R E S B A L O S A F V
T D B D K Y A J L Y S F F C D
Q A B J A Z I W Z X L G W L K
L P E S K O V K P P H U J O R
A T P K L W F W K B M N E Y V
Free Handout – http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts Photos: www.flickr.com (Creative Commons License) Pahz,
moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.

4. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish Page 4 of 4
The Answers
Matching
1. c
2. h
3. g
4. f
5. b
6. d
7. a
8. e
9. j
Word Scramble
balancear balancearse resbalar
Word Search
N N
Í Ó
C O Z I D A L A B S E R L
N A
A B
L S
A A E
Z B R
N L L
A E E
A R E S B A L O S A
B
A
L
Free Handout – http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts Photos: www.flickr.com (Creative Commons License) Pahz,
moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.