esencialmente
“esencialmente” means “essentially” in Spanish (when talking about the fundamental nature of something).
essentially
Also: basically, fundamentally
📝 In Action
La película es esencialmente una historia de amor.
B1The movie is essentially a love story.
Esencialmente, el plan no ha cambiado.
B2Basically, the plan hasn't changed.
Son dos problemas esencialmente diferentes.
C1They are two fundamentally different problems.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esencialmente
Question 1 of 3
Which word is a synonym for 'esencialmente'?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Latin word 'essentia' (being/essence) combined with the suffix '-mente' (which originally meant 'with the mind of').
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'esencialmente' more formal than 'básicamente'?
Yes, while they often mean the same thing, 'esencialmente' is slightly more formal and is preferred in writing and professional speeches.
Does the meaning change if I put it at the start of the sentence?
Not really. Putting it at the start (e.g., 'Esencialmente, no hay dinero') just puts more emphasis on the summary aspect.
Can I use it to mean 'necessarily'?
No. In Spanish, 'necessarily' is 'necesariamente'. Use 'esencialmente' only when describing the core nature of something.