sustancia
nounCEFR B2
What does “sustancia” mean in English?
substance — a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; also essential quality
substance — a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; also essential quality (una sustancia química; sin sustancia)
Example sentences
Las autoridades sanitarias advirtieron sobre los riesgos de consumir esa sustancia sin prescripción médica.
Health authorities warned about the risks of consuming that substance without a medical prescription.
El debate fue largo pero careció de sustancia: no se propuso ninguna medida concreta ni vinculante.
The debate was long but lacked substance: no concrete or binding measure was proposed.
La sustancia activa del fármaco actúa sobre los receptores del sistema nervioso central.
The active substance in the drug acts on the receptors of the central nervous system.
How to use it
La sustancia (noun, feminine) means 'substance' — a particular kind of matter, or the essential quality of something. Core B2 collocations: una sustancia química/tóxica/adictiva; consumo de sustancias; la sustancia de un argumento; sin sustancia (lacking depth). The adjective is sustancial. Distinguish from materia (matter, material — physical), elemento (element — component), and compuesto (compound — chemistry).
Common mistake
Sustancias (plural) in health/legal contexts almost always means controlled or harmful substances. 'Substance abuse' = abuso de sustancias. 'Substantial' = sustancial. 'In substance' (essentially) = en esencia (not *en sustancia).