Educado vs. culto vs. instruido

The Spanish words 'educado', 'culto', and 'instruido' all relate to the concept of being educated or learned, but they each have distinct nuances.

Educado

'Educado' generally means well-mannered or polite. It can imply a level of education, but it is more about having good manners and social graces.
Es un niño muy educado.
(He is a very well-mannered boy.)
La señora es muy educada con sus vecinos.
(The lady is very polite with her neighbors.)

Culto

'Culto' refers to someone who is cultured and has a broad knowledge, often in the arts and humanities. It indicates a deep appreciation for culture and intellectual pursuits.
Juan es un hombre muy culto que disfruta de la literatura y el arte.
(Juan is a very cultured man who enjoys literature and art.)
En la reunión, conocimos a una mujer culta que hablaba varios idiomas.
(At the meeting, we met a cultured woman who spoke several languages.)

Instruido

'Instruido' means someone who is well-educated or knowledgeable, usually as a result of formal education or training. It emphasizes academic knowledge.
El profesor es muy instruido en su campo de estudio.
(The professor is very knowledgeable in his field of study.)
María es una ingeniera instruida que ha trabajado en varios proyectos importantes.
(María is an educated engineer who has worked on several important projects.)

Summary

While 'educado' focuses on good manners and politeness, 'culto' emphasizes cultural refinement and knowledge in the arts and humanities. 'Instruido', on the other hand, highlights formal education and academic knowledge. Each word brings its unique nuance to the concept of being educated or learned.