Spanish Conversation · Level 34
75 words
Spanish word
culto
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkulto/
Meaning
- adjectivecultured
Example
El profesor es culto.
The teacher is cultured.
More examples
Su amigo es muy culto.
His friend is very cultured.
Core concept
Person surrounded by books and artworks.
Common phrases
ser culto
be cultured
muy culto
very cultured
hombre culto
cultured man
Similar words
educado: Polite and considerate in behavior, showing good manners in social situations.
cultivado: Aesthetically cultivated through art and reading, with a refined sensibility.
instruido: Formally educated, possessing systematic academic knowledge from schooling.
Definition in Spanish
Que demuestra conocimientos y una sensibilidad cultural adquirida por la lectura o la formación.
Word origin
Derived from Latin cultus, the past participle of colere 'to cultivate', originally meaning care or cultivation and later applied to a cultivated mind and refined tastes.
Usage tips
- In Spanish, culto praises learning and cultural taste (books, museums, exhibitions) rather than polite manners, and it is not the same as English 'cult' meaning a religious sect.