English Reference
Adjective

intercultural

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪntɝˈkəɫtʃɝəɫ/ UK /ˌɪntəkˈʌltʃəɹəl/ in·ter·cul·tur·al

adj.relating to the way people from different cultures interact and understand each other. It describes things that help people learn about or work with other cultures.

adj.relating to the interaction between different cultures or the study of such interactions. Often describes communication, education, or social practices that bridge cultural divides.


SIMPLE

The school offers an intercultural program for students.

CONTEXTUAL

Living in a diverse city provides many opportunities for intercultural exchange and learning.

COMPLEX

Effective intercultural communication requires not only language proficiency but also a deep respect for the social norms and values of the other culture.

Language teaching should therefore include intercultural pragmatics: not only what to say, but how to say it, when to say it and how much emotional weight it should carry.

Phys.org· 31 Aug 2026

From inter- + cultural.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated