necesitaban
“necesitaban” means “they needed” in Spanish (referring to a group of people, things, or animals).
they needed, you all needed
Also: they used to need, they were needing
📝 In Action
Ellos necesitaban más tiempo para terminar el examen.
A2They needed more time to finish the exam.
Las plantas necesitaban agua después de la sequía.
A2The plants needed water after the drought.
Ustedes necesitaban una reserva para entrar al restaurante.
B1You all needed a reservation to enter the restaurant.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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Words that translate to "necesitaban" in Spanish:
they needed→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: necesitaban
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'They needed help for many years'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'necessitāre', which comes from 'necesse' (unavoidable or indispensable).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'necesitaban' and 'necesitaron'?
'Necesitaban' is used for an ongoing or continuous need in the past (like 'they were needing'), while 'necesitaron' is for a completed, specific instance of needing something.