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necesitar

neh-seh-see-TAHR/ne.se.siˈtaɾ/

“necesitar” means “to need” in Spanish (require something or someone).

to need

Also: to require, to be in want of
VerbA1regular ar
A small, empty blue watering can sits on dry, cracked earth. Above it, a large, friendly gray rain cloud is beginning to pour a single stream of water toward the can's spout, illustrating a requirement.
infinitivenecesitar
gerundnecesitando
past Participlenecesitado

📝 In Action

Necesito un café antes de empezar a trabajar.

A1

I need a coffee before starting work.

¿Tú necesitas ayuda con ese problema de matemáticas?

A1

Do you need help with that math problem?

El coche necesita mucha gasolina para este viaje.

A2

The car requires a lot of gasoline for this trip.

Necesitamos que firmes estos documentos hoy mismo.

B1

We need you to sign these documents today.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • requerir (to require)
  • hacer falta (to be necessary (impersonal))

Antonyms

  • sobrar (to be left over/not be needed)
  • prescindir (to do without)

Common Collocations

  • Necesitar ayuda – To need help
  • Necesitar dormir – To need to sleep
  • Lo que necesito – What I need

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustednecesita
yonecesito
túnecesitas
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitan
nosotrosnecesitamos
vosotrosnecesitáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustednecesitaba
yonecesitaba
túnecesitabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaban
nosotrosnecesitábamos
vosotrosnecesitabais

preterite

él/ella/ustednecesitó
yonecesité
túnecesitaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaron
nosotrosnecesitamos
vosotrosnecesitasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustednecesite
yonecesite
túnecesites
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesiten
nosotrosnecesitemos
vosotrosnecesitéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustednecesitara
yonecesitara
túnecesitaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesnecesitaran
nosotrosnecesitáramos
vosotrosnecesitarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "necesitar" in Spanish:

to need→to require→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: necesitar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly expresses that *I* need *my friend* to call me?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *necessitas*, meaning 'unavoidable requirement' or 'constraint.' The word has barely changed its core meaning over the centuries, emphasizing how fundamental the concept of 'need' is.

First recorded: Medieval Latin period (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

English: necessityFrench: nécessiterPortuguese: necessitar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'necesitar' the same as 'tener que'?

No, they are slightly different! 'Necesitar' expresses a personal requirement or lack (I need water). 'Tener que' means 'to have to' and expresses an obligation or strong duty (I have to work today).

Can I use 'necesitar' to talk about emotional needs?

Absolutely! You can use it for both physical needs (Necesito agua) and emotional needs (Necesito verte, I need to see you) or abstract concepts (Necesitas más fe, You need more faith).