leer
leer
Have a look at these Spanish words:
leer
creer
caer
paraiso
real
leal
paella
oír
raíz
maestro
peaton
cautivo
poseer
creer
caer
paraiso
real
leal
paella
oír
raíz
maestro
peaton
cautivo
poseer
They are cognates of these words:
legere (Latin, to read)
credere (Latin & Italian, to believe)
cadere (Latin & Italian, to fall)
paradise
regal
legal
patella (Latin, pan)
audire (Latin, to hear)
radix (Latin, root)
magister (Latin, master)
pedestrian
captive
credere (Latin & Italian, to believe)
cadere (Latin & Italian, to fall)
paradise
regal
legal
patella (Latin, pan)
audire (Latin, to hear)
radix (Latin, root)
magister (Latin, master)
pedestrian
captive
possess
In each case Spanish has dropped a consonant but still says two syllables. That is, "real" is said "reh-AHL." Now that I see the pattern, I'll be on the lookout for other Spanish words whose meaning might be sussed out by adding back a lost consonant between two vowels.
Nice.
