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cultivo

kool-TEE-boh/kulˈti.βo/

cultivation, crop

Also: farming, growing
NounmA2
A small green sprout growing out of a mound of dark brown soil.

📝 In Action

El cultivo de hortalizas es muy común en esta zona.

A2

The cultivation of vegetables is very common in this area.

La lluvia dañó los cultivos de trigo.

B1

The rain damaged the wheat crops.

Necesitamos técnicas de cultivo más sostenibles.

B2

We need more sustainable farming techniques.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • plantación (plantation)
  • siembra (sowing)

Antonyms

  • recolección (harvest)

Common Collocations

  • cultivo intensivo – intensive farming
  • tierras de cultivo – farmland
  • rotación de cultivos – crop rotation

culture

Also: specimen
NounmB2formal
A petri dish containing colorful circular patterns representing biological growth.

📝 In Action

El médico pidió un cultivo de bacterias.

B2

The doctor ordered a bacterial culture.

Los resultados del cultivo estarán listos mañana.

B2

The culture results will be ready tomorrow.

Pusieron la muestra en un medio de cultivo.

C1

They placed the sample in a culture medium.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cepa (strain/stock)

Common Collocations

  • medio de cultivo – culture medium
  • cultivo celular – cell culture

I cultivate, I grow

Also: I foster
VerbA2regular ar
A person kneeling in a garden, carefully planting a small flower.
gerundcultivando
past Participlecultivado
infinitivecultivar

📝 In Action

Yo cultivo mis propias verduras en el jardín.

A2

I grow my own vegetables in the garden.

Cultivo una buena relación con mis vecinos.

B1

I foster a good relationship with my neighbors.

Cada día cultivo mi paciencia.

B1

Every day I cultivate my patience.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescultivaran
yocultivara
túcultivaras
vosotroscultivarais
nosotroscultiváramos
él/ella/ustedcultivara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescultiven
yocultive
túcultives
vosotroscultivéis
nosotroscultivemos
él/ella/ustedcultive

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescultivaron
yocultivé
túcultivaste
vosotroscultivasteis
nosotroscultivamos
él/ella/ustedcultivó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescultivaban
yocultivaba
túcultivabas
vosotroscultivabais
nosotroscultivábamos
él/ella/ustedcultivaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescultivan
yocultivo
túcultivas
vosotroscultiváis
nosotroscultivamos
él/ella/ustedcultiva
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cultivo

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the correct way to say 'I grow tomatoes'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cultivar(to cultivate) — Verb
cultivador(cultivator/farmer) — Noun
cultura(culture) — Noun
inculto(uneducated/uncultivated) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'cultivus', which comes from 'cultus' (tilled or cared for). This shares a root with 'colere', which meant to inhabit, till, or worship.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: cultivationPortuguese: cultivoFrench: culture

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'cultivo' and 'cultura'?

Use 'cultivo' for biological things like plants, farming, and lab samples. Use 'cultura' for human things like art, music, traditions, and history.

Can I use 'cultivo' for a relationship?

Yes! You can use the verb form ('Yo cultivo la amistad') to mean you are working to develop or maintain a friendship.

Is 'cultivo' a regular verb form?

Yes, it comes from 'cultivar', which is a completely regular -ar verb. It follows the standard pattern for all its endings.