'legacy', 'inheritance', 'heritage'?

Hi,

What are the differences among ‘legacy’, ‘inheritance’, and ‘heritage’? They all seem to me something you have that is left from the past…

Thank you very much.

Hi,

They do all have a similar meaning. ‘Legacy’ suggests what is left to someone by law/through a legal document. ‘Inheritance’ is a slightly more imaginative word suggesting something left by right and often something quite large. ‘Heritage’ is much broader because it refers what is left to future generations from the past and can refer to buildings/monuments/traditions and so on.

Alan

Hi,

Can I use “assets”, as well ??
I mean that the word would be like what parents would leave to their sons.

Hi,

‘Assets’ wouldn’t really work in this context because it is too general in meaning and can suggest either material or physical things that can be useful or valuable.

Alan

Thank you.