Inklingo

How to Say "it's necessary" in Spanish

The Spanish word forit's necessaryis tocaB1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB1

toca

VerbB1
Referring to obligation
A blue figure handing a red baton to a green figure, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility or turn.

Examples

Me toca pagar la cena esta noche.

It's my turn to pay for dinner tonight. (Literally: It touches me to pay)

A él no le toca decidir eso.

It's not up to him to decide that.

Esa canción no toca los temas que me interesan.

That song doesn't deal with the topics that interest me.

The 'Turn' Construction

When used to mean 'whose turn it is,' the sentence structure is similar to 'gustar.' You use an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le) followed by 'toca' to indicate who has the responsibility.

Using 'toca' instead of 'deber'

Mistake:Using 'Toca estudiar' to mean 'I must study'.

Correction: While 'toca' implies necessity, it usually implies duty/turn. Use 'debo estudiar' (I must study) for personal obligation.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.