cultural-heritage
/ˈkʌl.tʃər.əl ˈher.ɪ.tɪdʒ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Cultural heritage is the traditions, buildings, objects, and practices passed down from earlier generations. It can include language, festivals, art, food, and historic places.
- The museum protects our cultural heritage.
- Her cultural heritage shaped her family traditions.
- Old temples are part of the city's cultural heritage.
Adinary Nuance
Cultural heritage is broader than history. It includes living traditions, not only old objects or dates. It is also wider than tradition, because it can include buildings, language, and art. Writers use it when they want to stress what a community passes on and protects.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- di sản văn hóa
- Spanish
- patrimonio cultural
- Chinese
- 文化遗产
- Japanese
- 文化遺産
- Korean
- 문화유산
Etymology
Heritage comes from Old French heritage, from Latin heres, meaning 'heir'. The phrase cultural heritage became common in modern English in the 20th century.
Common phrases
preserve cultural heritagerich cultural heritagecultural heritage sitecultural heritage protection
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is cultural heritage the same as history?
- No. History is about past events. Cultural heritage includes traditions, places, and objects people still value today.
- Is cultural heritage formal or everyday English?
- It is fairly formal. You will see it often in education, news, museums, and government writing.
- Can cultural heritage refer to food and festivals?
- Yes. It can include food, festivals, music, dress, language, and other shared customs.