necesitan
“necesitan” means “they need” in Spanish (Talking about what a group of people or things requires.).
they need, you need
Also: they require
📝 In Action
Ellos necesitan más tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
A1They need more time to finish the project.
Ustedes necesitan comprar los boletos antes del viernes.
A1You all need to buy the tickets before Friday.
Las plantas necesitan agua y sol para crecer.
A2The plants need water and sun to grow.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: necesitan
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'necesitan' to mean 'You all (formal) need to study'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'necessitās', which meant 'need' or 'compulsion'. It's related to the idea of something being unavoidable.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'necesitan' and 'necesitáis'?
'Necesitan' is used for 'they' (ellos/ellas) and 'you all' (ustedes), which is common everywhere. 'Necesitáis' is the informal 'you all' (vosotros) form, used mainly in Spain.
Can I just say 'necesitan' without 'ellos' or 'ustedes'?
Yes, very often! If it's clear from the conversation who you're talking about, you can leave out 'ellos' or 'ustedes'. For example, if you're looking at a group of students, you can just say, 'Necesitan más libros' (They need more books).