Spanish Conversation · Level 78
60 words
Spanish word
civilización
Pronunciation
IPA/θiβiliθaˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine nouncivilization
Example
¿Cómo influyó la civilización en la vida cotidiana?
How did civilization influence everyday life?
More examples
¿La civilización moderna depende demasiado de la tecnología?
Does modern civilization depend too much on technology?
Core concept
The complex of laws, technologies, and everyday practices that define a society.
Common phrases
la civilización moderna
modern civilization
la civilización occidental
western civilization
Similar words
cultura: Shared practices, symbols, and artistic expressions transmitted within a community.
tradición: Customs and rituals maintained and observed across generations.
historia: Recorded sequence and account of past events that shape collective memory.
sociedad: Group of people bound by common institutions, interactions, or social roles.
Definition in Spanish
Término que agrupa los rasgos materiales y simbólicos (por ejemplo leyes, tecnología y formas de vida) que definen a una sociedad compleja y la distinguen de otras.
Word origin
'Civilización' is formed from civil + -ización, with civil from Latin civilis 'of citizens' and -ización marking a condition or process, so the word denotes societal development or order.
Usage tips
- In Spanish civilización often carries ideas of progress or modernization, so decir una sociedad 'más civilizada' commonly sounds evaluative rather than neutral.