necesidad
“necesidad” means “need” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
need, necessity
Also: requirement
📝 In Action
Mi primera necesidad es dormir ocho horas.
A1My primary need is to sleep eight hours.
No hay ninguna necesidad de gritar; te escucho perfectamente.
A2There is no necessity/need to shout; I hear you perfectly.
¿Tienes necesidad de algo antes de salir?
A1Do you need anything before leaving?
want, destitution
Also: poverty
📝 In Action
La crisis sumió a muchas familias en la necesidad.
B2The crisis plunged many families into destitution/want.
Ayudamos a los que viven en necesidad extrema.
B1We help those who live in extreme poverty.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: necesidad
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'necesidad' to mean 'poverty' or 'hardship'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *necessitas*, meaning 'unavoidable necessity' or 'compulsion.' It reflects the idea of something that cannot be changed or avoided.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'necesidad' (noun) and 'necesitar' (verb)?
They are closely related! 'Necesitar' is the verb ('to need,' e.g., 'Yo necesito un coche'). 'Necesidad' is the noun ('the need,' e.g., 'Tengo la necesidad de un coche'). You use the verb when describing the action of needing, and the noun when describing the concept itself.
How do I ensure I use the correct article with 'necesidad'?
Since 'necesidad' is feminine, always pair it with feminine articles: 'la necesidad' (singular) and 'las necesidades' (plural). Remember this pattern, as most Spanish words ending in -dad follow the same rule (e.g., 'ciudad', 'libertad').