French Conversation · Level 161
29 words
French word
culte
Pronunciation
IPA/kylt/
Meaning
- masculine nounreligious service
Example
Ils vont au culte chaque dimanche.
They attend a religious service every Sunday.
More examples
On célèbre le culte dans l'église du village.
A worship service is held in the village church.
Core concept
A community's shared religious devotion, visible in its ceremony and in the movement organized around it.
Common phrases
culte religieux
religious worship
célébrer un culte
hold a worship service
Similar words
messe: A Catholic worship service following the Church's prescribed liturgy.
prière: An act of expressing requests or thanks to God in speech or silent thought.
rituel: A religious custom performed repeatedly in a set order.
Definition in French
Actes de dévotion accomplis en commun lors d'une cérémonie religieuse; le mot peut aussi renvoyer à un mouvement religieux particulier.
Word origin
French culte is borrowed from Latin cultus, related to colere, meaning to cultivate or honor, and the word developed its sense of religious worship.
Usage tips
- The sense of a religious movement is not automatically negative in French; secte or mouvement sectaire more clearly signals criticism.