A2🔤 Letters F & G
Italian word
fondamentale
fundamental, essential, crucial
Looks like
fundamental
forming a necessary base; basic and important
⚠️ The trap
This is mostly a true cognate — but Italians use 'fondamentale' much more frequently and casually than English speakers use 'fundamental'. It's used where English would say 'essential' or 'crucial'.
To say "forming a necessary base; basic and important" in Italian:
fondamentale is a near-true cognate
"fondamentale" in English means:
fundamental, essential, crucial
Example
"È fondamentale studiare ogni giorno."
"It's fundamental to study every day."
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