Spanish word

necesitar

Pronunciation

IPA/neθesiˈtaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbneed

Example

Necesito agua.

I need water.

Illustration for necesitar (need)

More examples

Ella necesita dormir más.

She needs to sleep more.

Core concept

A gap in a bridge.

Common phrases

  • necesitar + infinitivo

    need to + infinitive

  • necesitar permiso

    need permission

  • necesitar dormir

    need to sleep

Similar words

querer: Want something and take steps to obtain it for personal satisfaction.
pedir: Ask someone to give something or to do a specific favor.
desear: Strongly wish for something and hope it will become reality.

Definition in Spanish

Indicar que algo o alguien hace falta para satisfacer una necesidad o lograr un objetivo; se usa con sustantivos o con infinitivos.

Word origin

From Latin necessitāre, built on necessitas meaning 'necessity' and adopted into Spanish via medieval Latin.

Usage tips

  • Saying 'Necesito...' can sound blunt when asking for help, so native speakers often soften requests with '¿Podrías...?' or '¿Te hace falta...?'

Other meanings

  • requireverb
  • be necessaryverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word