requerir
“requerir” means “to require” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to require
Also: to need
📝 In Action
Esta planta requiere mucha luz solar.
A1This plant requires a lot of sunlight.
El trabajo requiere hablar inglés con fluidez.
B1The job requires speaking English fluently.
Aprender a tocar el piano requiere paciencia.
B1Learning to play the piano needs patience.
to summon
Also: to notify
📝 In Action
El juez requirió la presencia de los testigos.
C1The judge summoned the witnesses to appear.
La policía le requirió que bajara del vehículo.
B2The police ordered him to get out of the vehicle.
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Indicative
Present
Preterite
Imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: requerir
Question 1 of 3
Which form is correct for 'We require'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'requirere', which is made of 're-' (again) and 'quaerere' (to seek/ask). It literally means to seek something that is needed.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'requerir' the same as 'necesitar'?
Almost! 'Necesitar' is for general needs ('I need a taco'), while 'requerir' is more about formal requirements or essential conditions ('The recipe requires eggs').
Why is the spelling so weird in the past tense?
It is an 'ir' verb that changes its vowel. In the 'he/she' and 'they' forms of the past, the 'e' changes to 'i' (requirió, requirieron).
Can I use 'requerir' with people?
Usually, we require 'things' or 'actions'. If you want to say you need a person's help, 'necesitar' is much more natural.