I know, I know. I’m a little old to be entering things in the county fair, but I wanted to give it a whirl and see how one of my watercolors would do. I also wrote a story about the county fair, and it’s running on the first page of the Norfolk Daily News today, so I thought it was a fitting time to discuss a certain cognate duo — and an extra one.
fair — the NOUN that means a “competitive exhibition that usually also has entertainment and amusements”
feria — the Spanish NOUN cognate of the same meaning
So, why did I capitalize the word noun? The word “fair” is more commonly used as an adjective or an adverb. When it is, the corresponding words in Spanish are NOT cognates because “fair” as an adjective or an adverb comes to us from Old English.
However, as a noun, the word “fair” comes to us from Latin and from the same ancestor as the Spanish word “feria.” In fact, the Latin word is also feria.
Thus, you might attend “una feria” because the word “feria” is feminine.
A “feria” in Late Latin was a “festal day.” What’s that mean? It means a day in which a feast was held. A “feast” in that sense is meant as an elaborate meal with an accompanying ceremony or entertainment.
We still use “feast” in this manner, and when we do, there is a Spanish cognate for it that I think you all already know, but you don’t know that you know it.
So, what is the well-known Spanish cognate for “feast?”
It’s “FIESTA!!!” You can’t have a feast without sharing it with other people, right? When you do, you’re having a party. “Party” tends to be the translation given for “fiesta,” but a more literal translation for “fiesta” is “feast.”
I think you can see the similarity between those two words.
One of the best known “ferias” or “fiestas” in Spain took place in July. La Feria de San Fermin in Pamplona — also called La Fiesta de San Fermin or La Festival de San Fermin.
What is it? You probably know it better as the most famous running of the bulls, but it’s the celebration of Pamplona’s patron saint, Saint Fermin (San Fermin in Spanish).
There are many “ferias” or “fiestas” held throughout Spain for the patron saints of cities. The one in Pamplona is the largest and the best known because of Ernest Hemingway, and American writer, who was obsessed with it and with bull fights.
That weeklong celebration is much different from the simple county fairs around here, but I’m okay with that.
To reinforce, “fair” as a NOUN has the cognate of “feria.” As an adjective or adverb, the translations of “fair” are very diverse. A common one, though, that I would often hear from my students was “It’s not fair;” that translates to “No es justo.” (Just is another word for fair, so you can probably see the cognate there.)
While I will be selling my books at the Nebraska State Fair, I don’t plan to enter any watercolor paintings there.
Vamos a la Feria! Let’s go to the Fair. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Until next week.
Tammy Marshall
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