How to Express Needs and Duties in Arabic

Understanding the Concept of Need in Arabic

Expressing needs in Arabic involves using specific vocabulary and structures. Understanding how to properly articulate what you need is crucial in everyday communication.

Common Verbs for Expressing Needs

The verb يحتاج (yaḥtāj) means "to need." It's often used in sentences to express a requirement or necessity. Other related terms include ضروري (ḍarūrī), which means "necessary," and يرغب (yarghab), meaning "to desire."

Conveying Duties and Obligations

In Arabic, expressing duties and obligations often involves a different set of phrases and structures. This is particularly important in formal communication or when discussing responsibilities at work or home.

Important Phrases

The phrase يجب (yajib) conveys obligation, similar to "must" in English. It is used to indicate something that cannot be overlooked. For duties, you might also encounter مسؤول (mas'ūl), meaning "responsible," and واجب (wājib), meaning "duty."

• يجب عليك (yajibu laika) - "You must"
• عليك أن ('alaika an) - "You have to"