Last updated: October 20, 2026
Culture questions ask about tradition, tourism, migration, and the effects of globalisation. These words help you compare cultures and discuss how they change.
Each word below has a short meaning and an example sentence written for IELTS. The first six are the core words from our IELTS academic vocabulary list, and the other 24 build your range further. Use them in your essays and in your Speaking Part 3 answers.
If you’re looking for free IELTS Writing practice, click the button below to write an essay and get an instant AI score, including a Lexical Resource band.
play_circle_outline Start Free Writing PracticeTable Of Contents
Core Culture and Globalisation Words
Start with these six. They come up again and again in IELTS questions on this topic.
Globalisation
The process by which countries become more connected.
- Globalisation has made foreign food and films part of everyday life.
Cultural identity
The feeling of belonging to a culture.
- Learning a local language helps young people keep their cultural identity.
Heritage
Traditions and buildings passed down from the past.
- Tourism can provide money to protect a country’s heritage.
Homogeneous
All of the same kind.
- Some fear that global brands will make cities more homogeneous.
Diversity
A range of different people or things.
- Cultural diversity can make a workplace more creative.
Assimilate
To become part of a new group or culture.
- Language classes help immigrants assimilate more quickly.
24 More Culture and Globalisation Words
Once you know the core words, these help you add precision and avoid repeating yourself.
Multicultural
Including people of many different cultures.
- London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
Tradition
A custom passed down from one generation to the next.
- Many traditions are disappearing as young people move to cities.
Cultural exchange
The sharing of ideas and customs between countries.
- Student exchange programmes promote cultural exchange.
Mass tourism
Travel by very large numbers of tourists to the same places.
- Mass tourism can damage historic city centres.
Indigenous
Originally from a particular place.
- Indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing.
Customs
Traditional ways of behaving in a society.
- Visitors should respect local customs.
Westernisation
The adoption of western culture and habits.
- Westernisation has changed eating habits in many Asian countries.
Cosmopolitan
Containing people and influences from many countries.
- Cosmopolitan cities attract talented workers from abroad.
Cultural values
The beliefs that a culture considers important.
- Respect for elders is a key cultural value in many societies.
Preserve
To keep something from being lost or damaged.
- Governments should preserve historic buildings.
Intercultural
Happening between people of different cultures.
- Intercultural skills are essential in international business.
Language barrier
Difficulty communicating because people speak different languages.
- The language barrier makes it hard for some migrants to find work.
Immigrant
A person who comes to live permanently in another country.
- Immigrants often bring valuable skills to their new country.
Tolerance
Willingness to accept beliefs and customs different from your own.
- Travel can increase tolerance of other cultures.
Stereotype
A fixed and often unfair idea about a group of people.
- Films sometimes reinforce cultural stereotypes.
Cuisine
A style of cooking from a country or region.
- Japanese cuisine has become popular all over the world.
Folklore
The traditional stories and beliefs of a community.
- Folklore is often passed down from grandparents to grandchildren.
Cultural landmark
A famous building or place important to a culture.
- The temple is the country’s most famous cultural landmark.
Authentic
Real and genuine, not copied or artificial.
- Tourists increasingly look for authentic local experiences.
Global village
The world seen as one community because of modern communication.
- The internet has turned the world into a global village.
Dominant culture
The culture with the most influence in a society.
- Minority languages can be lost under a dominant culture.
Ethnic
Connected with a national or cultural group.
- The city has a wide range of ethnic restaurants.
Commercialisation
Changing something so that it is mainly used to make money.
- The commercialisation of traditional festivals worries some people.
Souvenir
Something you buy to remember a place you visited.
- Mass-produced souvenirs rarely support local craftspeople.
Using These Words in IELTS Writing
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing band. Examiners look for a range of topic words used accurately and in natural combinations, not for the longest words you know.
- Use a few well, not many badly. Three or four precise words in an essay are worth more than ten forced ones.
- Learn the word with its partners. Note the collocations in each example sentence, such as the verb that goes with a noun.
- Paraphrase the question. Topic words help you restate the question in your introduction without copying it.
Try these words in a real IELTS Writing Task 2 question:
For natural word pairs on this topic, see our IELTS collocations by topic, and to connect your ideas, our IELTS linking words.
Using These Words in IELTS Speaking Part 3
Lexical Resource also counts for a quarter of your Speaking band. Part 3 is where these words fit best: the examiner asks abstract questions about society, causes, and the future, and a precise topic word shows the range that band 7 and above require. In Part 1, everyday words usually sound more natural.
- Use the word in your own sentence. Memorised phrases are easy for examiners to spot.
- Keep the tone conversational. Mix academic words with natural spoken phrases such as “I’d say” and “on top of that”.
- Support every word with an example. A topic word followed by a real example is what develops a Part 3 answer.
Sample Part 3 answer
The most obvious benefit is economic, because tourism creates jobs in rural areas. But I think it also helps to preserve our heritage, since the income pays for the upkeep of old temples and other cultural landmarks. On top of that, it encourages cultural exchange, as local people meet visitors from all over the world. The only risk, I’d say, is mass tourism, which can make some places feel less authentic.
The words in bold are from this page. Notice that each one is part of a natural spoken sentence, followed by a reason or an example.
Practise using these words in a real IELTS Speaking Part 3 answer:
For more questions and the answer patterns that fit them, see our IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions.
More IELTS Academic Vocabulary
Each page has 30 words with examples. For the six core words of every topic on one page, see our IELTS academic vocabulary list.
Education Environment Technology Health Work and the Economy Society and Government Presenting an Argument Cause and Effect Describing Data
Frequently Asked Questions
helpWhat vocabulary do I need for IELTS culture and globalisation topics?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn words for tradition, travel, and international influence, such as heritage, cultural identity, mass tourism, and globalisation. They help you compare cultures and discuss how they change.
helpHow can I use culture vocabulary in IELTS Speaking?expand_moreexpand_less
Part 3 questions about tourism, traditions, and other countries are a natural place for words such as preserve, customs, and cultural exchange. Give an example from your own country to support them.
helpHow do I remember culture and globalisation vocabulary for IELTS?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn each word with an example sentence and the words it is usually used with, review the list a few times a week, and use three or four of the words in every practice essay and Speaking Part 3 answer until they feel natural.