мне нужно
mne nuzhno
In Russian, 'I need' is expressed as мне нужно (mne nuzhno).
The phrase мне нужно is a neutral and polite way to express that something is necessary or required.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally 'to me [it is] necessary', where мне is the dative form of 'I'.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where 'I' is the subject, in the Russian phrase мне нужно, the person needing is the indirect object (dative case) and the thing needed is the subject.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing a need to perform an action, мне нужно is followed by an infinitive verb.
How do you pronounce it?
mne nuzhno
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the nominative я (I) instead of the dative мне (to me) when trying to say 'I need'.
Did you know?
- If you are desperately needing something, you might use the word нужен as an adjective. In this case, the gender of the word must change to match the object you need, not the person who needs it.
- The word нужно is related to the word нужда, which means 'poverty' or 'extreme want'. Using this phrase literally connects a simple need to a state of deprivation.
- When someone says мне нужно in a store, they are technically stating a fact about their state of being rather than making a request. To be more polite, Russians often add пожалуйста ('please') to turn the statement into a request.
Examples in context
- Мне нужно её имя.I need her name.This sentence is useful for requesting a specific piece of information using мне нужно.Tatoeba #10879945 by marafon, translation #6900884 by kaiperkins271
- Что ещё мне нужно?What else do I need?This sentence shows how to ask a question about further requirements using мне нужно.Tatoeba #3413447 by odexed, translation #3413312 by CK
- Мне нужно к врачу.I need to see the doctor.This sentence demonstrates how to express a need to see a professional using мне нужно.Tatoeba #5067071 by odexed, translation #2387718 by CK
- Мне нужно время на подготовку к экзамену.I need time to prepare for the exam.
- Мне нужна помощь с переводом текста.I need help with translating the text.
- Мне надо забрать свою одежду из прачечной.I need to pick up my clothes from the laundromat.
- Мне нужен новый компьютер.I need a new computer.
- Мне нужна эта книга.I need this book.
- Мне нужно больше времени.I need more time.
- Мне нужно пойти в магазинI need to go to the store
- 1708 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Anastasia are talking in a grocery store.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДмитрий, мне нужно купить молоко.Dmitriy, mne nuzhno kupit' moloko.Dmitry, I need to buy milk.
- Дмитрий DmitryХорошо, а что ещё тебе нужно?Khorosho, a chto yeshchyo tebe nuzhno?Okay, and what else do you need?
- Анастасия AnastasiaМне нужно ещё немного хлеба.Mne nuzhno yeshchyo nemnogo khleba.I also need a little more bread.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ возьму это в корзину.Ya voz'mu eto v korzinu.I will put that in the basket.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
