Culture Vocabulary

culture
Beginner

noun

Meaning:The ideas; customs; and social behaviour of a society

E.g."We learned about Japanese culture."

tradition
Beginner

noun

Meaning:A custom passed down through generations

E.g."It's a family tradition to eat together."

festival
Beginner

noun

Meaning:A special event with music; food; etc.

E.g."We went to a music festival."

costume
Beginner

noun

Meaning:Clothes worn for special occasions

E.g."She wore a witch costume for Halloween."

music
Beginner

noun

Meaning:Sounds made by instruments or voice

E.g."I love listening to classical music."

art
Beginner

noun

Meaning:Creative expression through painting, drawing, etc

E.g."He studies modern art."

story
Beginner

noun

Meaning:A description of events; real or imagined

E.g."He told a funny story."

dance
Beginner

noun

Meaning:Moving your body to music

E.g."She loves to dance."

song
Beginner

noun

Meaning:A piece of music with words

E.g."That's my favourite song."

film
Beginner

noun

Meaning:A movie

E.g."We watched a funny film last night."

ceremony
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:A formal public or religious event

E.g."The wedding ceremony was beautiful."

heritage
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:The history and traditions of a group

E.g."Our city has a rich cultural heritage."

belief
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:An idea that someone accepts as true

E.g."People have different beliefs."

custom
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:A habit or way of behaving in society

E.g."It's a local custom to shake hands."

religion
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:A system of faith or worship

E.g."Religion plays a big role in some cultures."

celebrate
Intermediate

verb

Meaning:To mark a special event

E.g."They celebrated their anniversary."

historical
Intermediate

adj

Meaning:Related to the past

E.g."We visited historical buildings."

language
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:System of spoken or written words

E.g."French is a beautiful language."

myth
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:A traditional story explaining things

E.g."That story is just a myth."

exhibition
Intermediate

noun

Meaning:A public display of art or objects

E.g."We visited an art exhibition."

multicultural
Advanced

adj

Meaning:Involving many cultures

E.g."New York is a multicultural city."

folklore
Advanced

noun

Meaning:Traditional stories of a community

E.g."The book is full of Scottish folklore."

symbolism
Advanced

noun

Meaning:Use of symbols to represent ideas

E.g."The red rose has deep symbolism."

ritual
Advanced

noun

Meaning:A ceremony with set actions

E.g."The tribe performs a sacred ritual."

legacy
Advanced

noun

Meaning:Something handed down from the past

E.g."Her art is her lasting legacy."

ancestry
Advanced

noun

Meaning:Family background or lineage

E.g."He studied his ancestry online."

philosophy
Advanced

noun

Meaning:The study of ideas about existence

E.g."She majored in philosophy."

icon
Advanced

noun

Meaning:A famous cultural or religious symbol

E.g."Nelson Mandela is a global icon."

ideology
Advanced

noun

Meaning:A set of beliefs held by a group

E.g."Their political ideology is strict."

pilgrimage
Advanced

noun

Meaning:A journey to a holy place

E.g."They made a pilgrimage to Mecca."