esencial
“esencial” means “essential” in Spanish (absolutely necessary).
essential, fundamental
Also: crucial, vital
📝 In Action
El agua potable es esencial para la vida humana.
A1Drinking water is essential for human life.
La comunicación es una parte esencial de cualquier relación.
A2Communication is an essential part of any relationship.
Este documento contiene la información esencial que necesitamos.
B1This document contains the essential information we need.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esencial
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'esencial'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *essentia*, meaning 'the nature of a thing' or 'being,' combined with the adjective ending '-al'. It literally means 'relating to the essence.'
First recorded: 14th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'esencial' ever change to 'esenciala'?
No. Because 'esencial' ends in the letter 'l', it is one of the adjectives that stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine (el) or feminine (la). You only need to add an 'es' to make it plural (esenciales).
Is 'esencial' stronger than 'importante'?
Yes, generally. 'Importante' means important, but 'esencial' implies necessity—without it, something cannot exist or function properly. It's the core component.