imprescindible
“imprescindible” means “essential” in Spanish (meaning something you cannot do without).
essential
Also: indispensable, must-have
📝 In Action
El agua es imprescindible para la vida.
A1Water is essential for life.
Este libro es imprescindible para aprender español.
B1This book is a must-have to learn Spanish.
Es imprescindible que traigas tu pasaporte al aeropuerto.
B2It is absolutely necessary that you bring your passport to the airport.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: imprescindible
Question 1 of 2
Which of these things is 'imprescindible' for a car to move?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin prefix 'in-' (not) and the verb 'praescindere' (to cut off before). It literally describes something that cannot be cut away from the main part.
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it more formal than 'necesario'?
Yes, it sounds a bit more sophisticated and emphasizes that the item is much more critical than something that is just 'necessary'.
Does it change if I'm talking about a woman?
No. Words ending in -e in Spanish, like 'imprescindible', 'grande', or 'inteligente', stay the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.