cultural

The word “cultural” means relating to the customs, arts, and shared ideas of a society. In plain terms, relating to the traditions, beliefs, and way of life of a group of people.

“Cultural” is pronounced KUHL-chruhl (/ˈkʌl.tʃ(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).

Here is “cultural” used in a sentence: “The festival celebrates the region's cultural heritage.”

“Cultural” is an adjective.

“Cultural” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Cultural relates to the shared customs, arts, beliefs, and traditions that give a society its identity. Social relates more broadly to how people interact and live together in groups. Culture shapes social life, so the words overlap, but cultural points to heritage and meaning, while social points to relationships and community.

Language, food, music, religious festivals, clothing, and storytelling traditions are all cultural. So are the values and manners a community passes down through generations. When we call something a 'cultural difference', we mean it comes from the customs and shared outlook of a particular group rather than from individual choice.

Cultural heritage is the collection of traditions, monuments, artworks, languages, and practices a society inherits from the past and passes to future generations. It can be tangible, like historic buildings and artefacts, or intangible, like folklore, music, and rituals. The term highlights what a community values enough to preserve.

It is generally neutral to positive. Cultural simply describes something linked to a society's customs and arts, and it often appears in respectful contexts like cultural exchange or cultural diversity. It carries no built-in judgement, though phrases such as 'cultural clash' can give it a more tense or critical tone.