essential
gb/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/ us/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
B1
English
~ 1200
elengedhetetlen, szükséges, a legszükségesebbek, az alapvető dolgok, lényegi, alapvető
B1
1
szükséges
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is essential for/to [something]
Water is essential for all forms of life.
A víz minden életforma számára elengedhetetlen.
It is essential to wear a helmet when riding a bike.
Kerékpározás közben elengedhetetlen sisakot viselni.
Good communication is essential to a healthy relationship.
Experience in customer service is essential for this job.
Learner examples
Water is essential for people and animals.
A víz elengedhetetlen az emberek és az állatok számára.
A passport is essential for travel to another country.
Egy útlevél elengedhetetlen ahhoz, hogy egy másik országba utazz.
It is essential to eat healthy food every day.
Good shoes are essential for running.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'essential' with 'important'. While all essentials are important, 'essential' means absolutely necessary, not just helpful.
Meaning
Completely necessary or very important
Collocations
absolutely essential
|essential part
|essential requirement
|essential information
|essential skills
Synonyms
crucial (Slightly more urgent or decisive in tone, often used for critical moments.)
|
vital (Emphasizes necessity for survival or success.)
Antonyms
optional (Implies something is not required.)
|
unnecessary (Direct opposite, meaning not needed at all.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very important and needed; you cannot do without it.
Absolutely necessary; extremely important and indispensable.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
the essentials of [something]
She packed only the essentials for the trip.
Csak a legszükségesebbeket pakolta be az útra.
Food, water, and shelter are essentials for survival.
Az élelem, a víz és a menedék a túléléshez szükséges alapvető dolgok.
Understanding the essentials of grammar is important for writing well.
Learner examples
We bought the essentials for the picnic.
Megvettük a piknikhez a legszükségesebbeket.
Water is one of the essentials of life.
A víz az élet egyik alapvető szükséglete.
I only carry the essentials in my bag.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'essentials' to describe luxuries they personally value; it should mean things truly needed.
Meaning
A basic and necessary thing
Collocations
basic essentials
|carry the essentials
|pack the essentials
|the bare essentials
Synonyms
necessity (General term for something needed; can be less absolute in some contexts.)
Antonyms
luxury (Something desirable but not necessary.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|survival
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that is very important and needed.
A basic or indispensable element, quality, or item.
B2
3
Usage pattern:
an essential part/feature of [something]
Freedom of speech is an essential feature of democracy.
A szólásszabadság a demokrácia lényegi jellemzője.
Patience is an essential quality in a good teacher.
A türelem a jó tanár egyik lényegi tulajdonsága.
Understanding is essential to any successful relationship.
Learner examples
Air is an essential part of life.
A levegő az élet alapvető része.
Kindness is an essential part of being a good friend.
A kedvesség lényegi része annak, hogy valaki jó barát legyen.
Water is an essential part of our body.
Meaning
Belonging to the basic nature of something
Collocations
essential quality
|essential feature
|essential character
Synonyms
intrinsic (More formal, emphasizes being inherent by nature.)
Antonyms
accidental (Formal term meaning not part of the inherent nature.)
Themes
philosophy
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Part of the basic nature of something; cannot be removed without changing it.
Relating to or constituting the intrinsic, fundamental nature of something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
essential
IPA
GB/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
US/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
Syllables & stress
es - sen - tial (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sen)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: essential
Noun
- Base: essential
- Plural: essentials
Word family
Forms
essentials
noun
Core family
essence
noun B2
essentially
adverb B1
Negative and opposite forms
nonessential
adjective
inessential
adjective
Advanced or less common
essentialism
noun
essentialist
noun
Expressions
bare essentials
1/bˈɛɹ ɪsˈɛnʃəlz/
fixed phrase
Only the most necessary things
Only the things you really need; nothing extra.
Examples
- We only took the bare essentials on our camping trip.
- After the fire, they were left with just the bare essentials.
essential oils
1/ɪsˈɛnʃəl ˈɔɪlz/
fixed phrase
Concentrated plant extracts with aroma
Strong liquids from plants that have a special smell or taste, used in perfumes, food, or medicine.
Examples
- Lavender and peppermint are popular essential oils used in aromatherapy.
- She added a few drops of essential oil to the bath.