esencial

Esencial is an adjective in Spanish that designates what is necessary, indispensable, or fundamental to a system, concept, or process. It is used to describe elements that are central to the functioning or identity of something, as well as goods and services considered necessary for basic needs.

Etymology: Esencial derives from Latin essentialis, from essentia (essence), and was adapted into Spanish through Old French or directly into the Romance language family. The form is cognate with similar words in other Romance languages, such as esencial in Spanish, essentiel in French, essential in English.

Usage: In philosophy and science, esencial refers to essential properties—characteristics that define an entity and without which it would not be the same thing, as opposed to accidental properties. In everyday language, people refer to "productos esenciales" or "bienes esenciales" to denote items needed for basic living. The term also appears in policy and law to mark "servicios esenciales" during emergencies or restrictions.

Cultural references: In music, cinema, and publishing, Esencial or Esenciales is a popular title choice for compilations, anthologies, and collections intended to present a core or curated selection of works. The word is also used in branding and marketing to denote a baseline or core offering.

See also: Esencia, Esencialismo, Essential, Essential properties, Bienes esenciales, Servicios esenciales.