German word

bedürfen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈdʏɐ̯fn̩/

Meaning

  • verbneed

Example

Die Kinder bedürfen der Hilfe.

The children need help.

Illustration for bedürfen (need)

More examples

Bei Problemen bedürfen viele Leute fachlicher Unterstützung.

When there are problems, many people require professional support.

Core concept

A person or institution reaches toward a resource that is necessary for a task or condition to succeed.

Common phrases

  • bedürfen der Hilfe

    require assistance

  • bedürfen fachlicher Unterstützung

    require professional support

Similar words

brauchen: To need a specific thing or assistance in everyday situations.

Definition in German

ein formelles Verb, das aussagt, dass jemand oder etwas einer Sache bedarf und dabei in der Regel den Genitiv verlangt

Word origin

The verb comes through Old High German bithurfan and Middle High German bedürfen, with the be- form belonging to the Germanic word family of Bedarf and Bedürfnis.

Usage tips

  • Bedürfen usually takes a genitive object, as in Die Kinder bedürfen der Hilfe, rather than the accusative used with English require.

Other meanings

  • requireverb

Opposites

  • entbehrenlackverb

Related words

Word lists with this word