Spanish Conversation · Level 164
30 words
Spanish word
cortesano
Pronunciation
IPA/koɾteˈsano/
Meaning
- adjectivecourtly
Example
La música cortesana era elegante.
The courtly music was elegant.
More examples
Ella adoptó un tono cortesano para impresionar al jefe.
She adopted a courtly tone to impress the boss.
Core concept
Retinue of courtiers gathered around a throne.
Similar words
cortés: Behaves politely and respectfully toward others, showing considerate manners.
elegante: Presents a refined, stylish appearance and graceful social bearing.
formal: Adopts a ceremonious, protocol-minded attitude for formal situations.
refinado: Exhibits subtle good taste and finely polished, attentive manners.
Definition in Spanish
Relativo a la corte de un rey o monarca, usado para describir personas, costumbres o manifestaciones culturales propias de ese entorno.
Word origin
Derived from Spanish corte 'court' plus the adjectival suffix -ano, with corte from Latin cohors 'retinue' denoting the king's household.
Usage tips
- The identical form cortesano is also a noun meaning courtier, so context determines whether it describes something courtly or names a person.