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"Cultura" is a noun which is often translated as "culture", and "tradición" is a noun which is often translated as "tradition". Learn more about the difference between "cultura" and "tradición" below.
la cultura(
kool
-
too
-
rah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. culture
El ayuntamiento quiere fomentar la cultura en la ciudad abriendo un centro de artes escénicas.The city council wants to promote culture in the city by opening a performing arts center.
b. arts
Artistas y cineastas piden al gobierno que invierta más en cultura.Artists and filmmakers are asking the government to spend more money on the arts.
2. (society)
a. culture
Me encanta viajar y aprender sobre otras culturas y sus costumbres.I love to travel and learn about other cultures and their customs.
3. (knowledge)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mi tía es catedrática de universidad, tiene mucha cultura y siempre está leyendo algo.My aunt is a university professor; she is very cultured and is always reading something.
Dijo que Confucio fue el que inventó la confusión. - ¡Madre mía, qué poca cultura!She said Confucius invented confusion. - ¡Oh my God, how ignorant!
a. culture
China parece haber abrazado la cultura del ocio occidental.China seems to have embraced Western leisure culture.
la tradición(
trah
-
dee
-
syohn
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (custom)
a. tradition
Cada cultura tiene tradiciones que se deben preservar.Every culture has traditions that should be preserved.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Por tradición, en España se comen doce uvas a medianoche el 31 de diciembre.It's customary to eat twelve grapes at midnight on 31 December in Spain.
El día de San José es tradición dejar flores en la gruta.It's traditional to leave flowers at the grotto on St. Joseph's Day.
