essentiel

the essential; the main thing

noun adjective eh-sahn-SYEL Less Common

Origin: Latin 'essentialis'

Also means

essential (adjective)

Usage Note

Essentiel as a noun (l'essentiel) means 'the most important thing' or 'the basics' — l'essentiel est de comprendre (the main thing is to understand). As an adjective it means essential or crucial. The adverb essentiellement means 'essentially' or 'mainly'. The noun is always masculine singular with the definite article.

Examples

"L'essentiel, c'est de rester en bonne santé."

Natural Translation

The essential thing is to stay healthy.

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