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.
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

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moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.
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

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moacirpdsp, Phillipe Put.
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.