cultivar
“cultivar” means “to grow” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to grow
Also: to farm, to cultivate
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo cultiva tomates en su jardín.
A1My grandfather grows tomatoes in his garden.
Es difícil cultivar arroz en este clima tan seco.
A2It is difficult to grow rice in this very dry climate.
Ellos cultivan la tierra con métodos tradicionales.
B1They farm the land using traditional methods.
to cultivate
Also: to foster, to nurture
📝 In Action
Es importante cultivar las amistades antiguas.
B1It is important to cultivate old friendships.
Ella siempre intenta cultivar su mente leyendo mucho.
B2She always tries to cultivate her mind by reading a lot.
Debemos cultivar un ambiente de respeto en la oficina.
C1We must foster an environment of respect in the office.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cultivar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I grow flowers' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'cultivare', which comes from 'cultus' (care, labor, or tilling). It shares the same root as the word 'culture'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'plantar' and 'cultivar'?
'Plantar' refers specifically to the act of putting a seed or plant into the ground. 'Cultivar' refers to the entire ongoing process of taking care of it until it's grown.
Can I use 'cultivar' for people?
Not for their physical growth (use 'criar' for raising kids), but you can use it for their education or skills, like 'cultivar el talento'.
Is 'cultivar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs in all tenses, making it very easy to conjugate.