culto
“culto” means “cultured” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
cultured
Also: educated, learned
📝 In Action
Es una persona muy culta que conoce mucho sobre historia y arte.
B1They are a very cultured person who knows a lot about history and art.
Utiliza un lenguaje culto en sus discursos.
B2He uses sophisticated language in his speeches.
worship
Also: religious service, cult
📝 In Action
La libertad de culto es un derecho fundamental.
B2Freedom of worship is a fundamental right.
El culto se celebra todos los domingos a las diez.
B1The service is held every Sunday at ten.
Existe un culto a la personalidad alrededor del líder.
C1There is a cult of personality around the leader.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: culto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'culto' to describe someone who is very well-educated?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'cultus,' which means 'care,' 'cultivation,' or 'veneration.' It shares the same root as the word for growing plants (cultivate) because the Romans saw education and worship as ways of 'tending to' the mind and the gods.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'culto' the same as 'educado'?
Not exactly. 'Educado' usually means someone has good manners (polite). 'Culto' means someone has a lot of knowledge, has read many books, or understands art and history.
Does 'culto' always have a religious meaning?
No. While it can mean a religious service or worship, it is also frequently used as an adjective to mean 'cultured' or 'learned'.