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vital

vital

adjective bee-TAHL Less Common

Also means

essential

Usage Note

Vital means both 'relating to life' (funciones vitales, 'vital signs') and 'essential/crucial' (es vital que llegues a tiempo, 'it is vital that you arrive on time'). In informal speech it also describes an energetic, lively person: es una persona muy vital ('she is a very vivacious person'). This third sense of 'full of life/energy' is less obvious to English speakers.

Examples

"Es vital mantener una dieta equilibrada."

Natural Translation

It is vital to maintain a balanced diet.

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