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culto

cult

noun adjective KOOL-toh Less Common
Arts & Culture Religion

Origin: From Latin cultus ('tended, worshipped'), from colere ('to cultivate').

Also means

worship

Usage Note

Culto as a noun means religious worship or a cult (rendir culto = 'to pay homage/worship'). As an adjective it means 'educated, cultured, learned' (una persona muy culta) — a false friend for English speakers who expect only the 'cult' sense. The related noun cultura ('culture') and verb cultivar ('to cultivate') share the same Latin root. The phrase culto a la personalidad is 'personality cult'.

Examples

"El culto a ese dios era muy antiguo."

Natural Translation

The worship of that god was very ancient.

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