How to Say "they need" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they need” is “necesitan” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos necesitan más tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
They need more time to finish the project.
Ustedes necesitan comprar los boletos antes del viernes.
You all need to buy the tickets before Friday.
Las plantas necesitan agua y sol para crecer.
The plants need water and sun to grow.
Who is 'necesitan'?
This one word can mean 'they need' or 'you all need' (when speaking formally). The context of the conversation will tell you which one it is.
Needing to DO something
When you need to do an action, just add the basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form of the verb right after 'necesitan'. For example: 'Necesitan comer' (They need to eat). No extra 'to' is needed like in English.
Forgetting the pronoun
Mistake: “"Necesitan un coche." (Who needs a car? Them or you all?)”
Correction: When it might be confusing, it's clearer to say 'Ellos necesitan un coche' (They need a car) or 'Ustedes necesitan un coche' (You all need a car).
Related Translations
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