culto
/ˈkulto/
The Spanish word for cult is culto.
The word culto can refer to a religious service or the act of worship. It can also be used to describe a devotion or a practice, such as a 'cult of ignorance'. However, when referring to a group of people, specifically a dangerous or manipulative religious sect, the word culto is not the standard term for the group itself. Instead, it describes the practice or worship practiced by them.
Meaning: sect (noun)
Which one should you use?
There is a significant difference between culto and secta. While culto can refer to a religious practice or a way of worshiping, secta is the more common term used to describe a dangerous or manipulative religious sect/cult in a sociological or negative sense. Additionally, the phrase de culto is used as an adjective to describe something enjoyed by a small, loyal group.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term secta is the preferred choice to refer to cults in both formal and informal contexts.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkulto/
What mistakes should you avoid?
The term 'secta' is commonly used to refer to a cult, especially in religious or spiritual contexts.
Did you know?
- A person who is very highly educated or refined might be described as a persona culta, which is an entirely different usage from a religious 'cult'.
- The word culto comes from the Latin cultus, which refers to the act of tilling or caring for a field. This links the idea of religious devotion to the careful cultivation of a garden.
- If you call a group a secta in Spain, you are almost certainly accusing them of being a dangerous or fraudulent organization.
Examples in context
- Este es un culto judío.That's a Jewish cult.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific religious group using culto.Tatoeba #998258 by hayastan, translation #3145241 by faehrmann
- La creencia en multitud de dioses y su culto es característico de las mitologías griega y romana.The belief in numerous deities and their cult is characteristic of Greek and Roman mythologies.This sentence shows how culto is used to describe the worship of deities in mythology.Tatoeba #5629092 by arh, translation #6620406 by arh
- La secta se reúne cada domingo para sus rituales religiosos.The cult meets every Sunday for their religious rituals.
- El grupo mantiene un culto a su líder carismático.The group maintains a cult around their charismatic leader.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about a mysterious group in their neighborhood.
- ElenaMateo, ¿has oído hablar de ese culto extraño?Mateo, have you heard about that strange cult?
- MateoSí, dicen que el culto es muy peligroso.Yes, they say the cult is very dangerous.
- ElenaMi prima se unió a ese culto el año pasado.My cousin joined that cult last year.
- MateoEspero que ella pueda salir de allí pronto.I hope she can get out of there soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry culto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries culto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
