Translation of German word "brauchen" to English
brauchen
/ˈbʁaʊ̯çən/
Meaning
VerbTo have an absolute requirement for.
How to use
The weak verb brauchen ('to need / require') conjugates regularly: ich brauche, du brauchst, er braucht, hat gebraucht. Note: the source translation is 'necessary' (необходимо), which is an adverb; brauchen is a verb. It requires a direct object in the accusative case (Ich brauche deine Hilfe). In negation with nicht, it can act as an auxiliary meaning 'don't need to / don't have to' (requires zu + infinitive, e.g., Du brauchst nicht zu kommen — You don't need to come).
🇬🇧 English
to need
Example
Es besteht kein Grund zu spekulieren; Wir können es leicht und sicher herausfinden.
There is no need to speculate; We can find out easily and safely.
Sein ständiges Bedürfnis nach Aufmerksamkeit ärgerte sie zunehmend.
His constant need for attention increasingly annoyed her.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- Hilfe brauchen— to need help / assistance
- Zeit brauchen— to need time
- nicht zu tun brauchen— not need to (requires 'nicht' + 'zu' + infinitive)
More Core Verbs words
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "brauchen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/braucht ...
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #184 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "brauchen"?▼
The German word "brauchen" is defined as: "To have an absolute requirement for."
What does the German word "brauchen" mean?▼
The German word "brauchen" means "to need" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "brauchen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "brauchen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "brauchen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Es besteht kein Grund zu spekulieren; Wir können es leicht und sicher herausfinden." (which translates as "There is no need to speculate; We can find out easily and safely.").
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