necesitar
Lemma Details
Translation: to need; to require; to necessitate
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'necessitas' (necessity, need, requirement), which comes from 'necesse' (unavoidable, inevitable). The English words 'necessary' and 'necessity' share this Latin root. The Spanish verb evolved to express the concept of having an unavoidable requirement or need for something.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'necessary' in English - if something is necessary, you 'necesitar' (need) it.
- The 'neces-' part sounds like 'necessary' - when something is necessary, you need it.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
A very common verb in Spanish that appears in everyday conversation. In some Latin American countries, particularly in service contexts, 'necesitar' is often used in polite questions like '¿Qué necesita?' (What do you need?) when addressing customers.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'necesitar' means 'to need' (expressing necessity), 'querer' means 'to want' (expressing desire). Something you need is essential, while something you want is desired but not essential.
Confused word:
Quiero un helado de chocolate.
I want a chocolate ice cream.
Notes: In some contexts, Spanish speakers might use 'querer' where English speakers would use 'need', especially in polite requests.
Mnemonic: Think: 'Necesitar' is for needs (necessities), 'querer' is for wants (desires).
Explanation: 'Necesitar' is active (someone needs something), while 'faltar' indicates that something is missing or lacking.
Confused word:
Me falta tiempo para terminar.
I lack time to finish.
Notes: 'Faltar' often uses indirect object pronouns (me falta, te falta) while 'necesitar' uses subject pronouns (yo necesito, tú necesitas).
Mnemonic: 'Faltar' sounds like 'fault' - there's a fault or gap where something should be.