German word

brauchen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbʁaʊ̯xən/

Meaning

  • verbneed

Example

Er braucht kein Geld.

He doesn't need any money.

Illustration for brauchen (need)

More examples

Wir brauchen Hilfe.

We need help.

Core concept

A person checks whether the needed resource is available before a task can succeed.

Common phrases

  • brauchen Hilfe

    need help

  • brauchen Zeit

    need time

Similar words

benötigen: To require something as necessary for a task or purpose.
gebrauchen: To use something, especially a tool or practical resource.
fehlen: To be missing when something necessary is not available.

Definition in German

Etwas benötigen, um einen Zweck zu erfüllen.

Word origin

Brauchen is an inherited Germanic verb that developed from an older verb meaning 'use' or 'make use of' into the modern sense 'need'.

Usage tips

  • In the negative, nicht brauchen zu plus an infinitive means 'not need to', while kein often negates a needed noun.

Other meanings

  • requireverb
  • have toverb

Opposites

Related words

  • unbrauchbarunusableadjective
  • der Gebrauchusenoun

Word lists with this word