necesitábamos
“necesitábamos” means “we needed” in Spanish (as an ongoing state or background action in the past).
we needed, we used to need
Also: we were needing
📝 In Action
Necesitábamos más tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
A2We needed more time to finish the project.
Cuando éramos niños, siempre necesitábamos dinero para comprar dulces.
B1When we were kids, we always needed money to buy candy.
El coche no funcionaba bien y necesitábamos uno nuevo urgentemente.
B2The car wasn't working well, and we urgently needed a new one.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: necesitábamos
Question 1 of 1
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Cuando vivíamos allí, necesitábamos un mapa'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'necesitar' comes directly from the Latin word 'necessitāre,' meaning 'to compel' or 'to be unavoidable.' It has always carried the core idea of something being required or essential.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'necesitábamos' and 'necesitamos' (preterite)?
'Necesitábamos' (imperfect) describes a need that was ongoing, habitual, or the background setting in the past ('We needed water every day'). 'Necesitamos' (preterite) describes a need that started and ended quickly in the past ('We needed water right then, and we got it').
Why does 'necesitábamos' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'á' is essential for pronunciation. It tells you to put the stress on that third-to-last syllable: ne-ce-si-TÁ-ba-mos. This is a rule for all 'nosotros' forms in the imperfect tense for -ar verbs.