lo necesito
/lo neθesito/from spelling rules
The phrase lo necesito is how you say "I need it" in Spanish.
This phrase is used to express that something is necessary or required.
Which one should you use?
Use lo necesito for a specific object, whereas lo necesito todo would mean "I need it all".
How does it change in a sentence?
The subject pronoun yo (I) is often omitted because the verb ending -o already indicates the first-person singular. The pronoun lo changes to la if the object being referred to is feminine. For example, you would use la necesito for a feminine object.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo neθesito/
Did you know?
- While lo necesito is standard, in some Latin American countries, speakers may use me hace falta to express a need. This literally translates to 'it is lacking to me', shifting the focus from the person's desire to the object's absence.
- The pronoun lo in lo necesito descends from the Latin word illum, which originally meant 'that' or 'that one'. This demonstrates how a word for pointing at something evolved into a general object pronoun.
- In Spanish, using the verb necesitar can sometimes sound overly demanding or blunt depending on the context. To be more polite, speakers often soften the phrase by adding por favor or using a conditional form like lo necesitaría.
Examples in context
- Yo lo necesito ahora.I need it now.This example shows how to add a time element to the phrase using lo necesito.Tatoeba #4613373 by Francisco_M, translation #2387493 by CK
- Lo necesito para hoy.I need it today.This sentence demonstrates how to express a deadline with lo necesito.Tatoeba #9706652 by Shishir, translation #2160865 by Hybrid
- Lo necesito cuanto antes.I need it as soon as possible.This sentence shows how to express urgency with lo necesito.Tatoeba #5631983 by arh, translation #5827369 by arh
- ¡Me hace falta mi billetera!I need my wallet!
- ¡Me urge! No encuentro mis llavesI need it urgently! I can't find my keys
- Me hace falta un poco de dinero.I need some money.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are in a kitchen looking for a specific tool.
- Lucía¿Dónde está el abridor de latas?Where is the can opener?
- DanielNo lo veo por ninguna parte.I don't see it anywhere.
- LucíaDámelo si lo encuentras, lo necesito.Give it to me if you find it, I need it.
- DanielEstá en el cajón de arriba.It is in the top drawer.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
