sustancial

soos-tahn-SYAL/sustanˈsjal/

“sustancial” means “substantial” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

substantial🔊B1Adjective

referring to a large or important amount

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essential🔊C1Adjective

referring to the core essence of something

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substantial

Also: significant, considerable

Adjectivem or fB1

A large, tall stack of gold coins sitting on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

Hubo un cambio sustancial en los resultados del examen.

There was a substantial change in the exam results.

Recibió una mejora sustancial en su salario este mes.

He received a significant improvement in his salary this month.

No hay una diferencia sustancial entre estas dos opciones.

There is no substantial difference between these two options.

Word Connections

Synonyms

importante (important)
considerable (considerable)

Antonyms

insignificante (insignificant)
leve (slight)

Common Collocations

mejora sustancial – substantial improvement
cambio sustancial – substantial change
ahorro sustancial – substantial savings

essential

Also: fundamental

Adjectivem or fC1formal

A bright red apple with a small seed visible at its center.

📝 In Action

Analizaron los elementos sustanciales del contrato.

They analyzed the essential elements of the contract.

Lo sustancial de su discurso fue la paz.

The essence of his speech was peace.

Word Connections

Synonyms

esencial (essential)
fundamental (fundamental)

Antonyms

accesorio (accessory/secondary)
superficial (superficial)

Common Collocations

parte sustancial – essential part
contenido sustancial – core content

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "sustancial" in Spanish:

considerable→essential→fundamental→significant→substantial→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sustancial

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence uses 'sustancial' to mean a large amount?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

sustancia(substance) — Noun

sustancialmente(substantially) — Adverb

sustancioso(substantial/rich/nutritious) — Adjective

sustantivo(noun/substantive) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

artificial esencial parcial

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'substantialis', which comes from 'substantia' (substance). It literally means 'relating to the essence or nature of a thing.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: substantialFrench: substantielItalian: sostanziale

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'sustancial' and 'sustancioso'?

'Sustancial' is usually for abstract things like changes, improvements, or differences. 'Sustancioso' is for physical things that have a lot of substance, like a rich soup or a juicy piece of fruit.

Can I use 'sustancial' to mean 'essential'?

Yes, especially in formal or academic contexts. For example, 'una parte sustancial del plan' means a core or essential part of the plan.

Is 'sustancial' common in daily conversation?

It is less common than 'grande' or 'importante,' but you will hear it frequently in news broadcasts, business meetings, and written articles.