French Conversation · Level 70
59 words
French word
cultiver
Pronunciation
IPA/kyltive/
Meaning
- verbgrow
Example
Je cultive des tomates sur mon balcon.
I grow tomatoes on my balcony.
More examples
Elle cultive sa curiosité en lisant beaucoup.
She cultivates her curiosity by reading a lot.
Core concept
Someone nurtures growth through repeated attention, whether the object is a crop in soil or something developed through practice and care.
Common phrases
cultiver des légumes
cultivate vegetables
cultiver la terre
cultivate the land
cultiver des fleurs
grow flowers
Similar words
développer: To build an ability or interest gradually and bring it to maturity.
nourrir: To nourish growth with the necessary food or materials.
entretenir: To maintain growth or condition through repeated attention and care.
élever: To bring up animals or children through attentive care.
Definition in French
Soigner et favoriser la croissance d'une plante ou d'une récolte; s'emploie aussi pour mettre en œuvre des actions visant à développer une compétence, une qualité ou un lien.
Word origin
The French verb cultiver derives from Latin cultivare, based on colere, 'to till or tend', and preserves both its concrete agricultural sense and its later figurative sense.
Usage tips
- The final -er in cultiver is pronounced like the French vowel in été, not like the English r sound in 'farmer'.
Other meanings
- cultivateverb
Opposites
- abandonnerabandonverb