يحتاج
yaḥtāj
To need in Arabic is يحتاج (yaḥtāj).
The verb يحتاج is used to express having an absolute requirement for something.
Meaning: to have an absolute requirement for (verb)
Which one should you use?
While the verb describes the act of needing, the related nouns differ in nuance: احتياج refers to the state or act of needing, whereas حاجة often refers to a specific thing that is needed or a basic necessity. The word ضَرُورَة is also a related noun meaning something required.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing the need for something, the verb is typically followed by the preposition إلى (to), as in يحتاج إلى. However, in many dialects and some Modern Standard Arabic contexts, the preposition لـ (for/to) is used instead, such as يحتاج لـ. To change the subject, you can modify the verb: use أحتاج to say "I need" and use تحتاج to mean either "you (masculine singular) need" or "she needs", depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
yaḥtāj
Did you know?
- The word حاجة is used in a common idiom قضاء الحاجة, which is a polite euphemism for using the restroom.
- In a religious or highly formal context, the concept of 'need' is often inverted to describe how humans have an absolute 'need' for the Divine, using the same root as يحتاج.
- While يحتاج is the standard verb for 'need', Arabic speakers often use the phrase بدي (from the root for 'want') in Levantine dialects to express both desire and necessity.
Examples in context
- ياني لا يحتاج لأحد.Yanni doesn't need anybody.This sentence uses يحتاج to show that someone does not need anybody.Tatoeba #12000510 by dididodo, translation #10052637 by Amastan
- هو لا يحتاج إلى عمل.He doesn't need a job.This sentence uses يحتاج to show that someone does not need a job.Tatoeba #12000819 by dididodo, translation #8572503 by Amastan
- زيري لا يحتاج لشوارب.Ziri doesn't need a moustache.This sentence uses يحتاج to show that someone does not need a moustache.Tatoeba #12000880 by dididodo, translation #10798411 by Amastan
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
