brauchen
to need · to take (time, money, etc.) · to need to (with zu + infinitive)
Brauchen means 'to need'. It is one of the most common German verbs and is used to express necessity or requirement. In everyday speech, it often appears with 'nicht' to mean 'don't need to' or 'don't have to'.
What brauchen means
- to need — when you require something or someone
- to take (time, money, etc.) — when talking about resources consumed
- to need to (with zu + infinitive) — expressing necessity, often with 'nur' or 'nicht'
Heard in real German videos
Lines where brauchen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ich brauche dich, Coko.I need you, Coko.
Example sentences
- Ich brauche einen neuen Computer.I need a new computer.
- Brauchst du Hilfe?Do you need help?
- Wir brauchen mehr Zeit.We need more time.
- Du brauchst nicht zu kommen.You don't need to come.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | brauche / brauchst / braucht |
|---|---|
| Simple past | brauchte |
| Perfect | hat gebraucht |
| Separable | no |
| Case | accusative |
Brauchen is a weak verb, so its past forms are regular. When used with another verb, it often takes 'zu' + infinitive, but in colloquial speech 'zu' is sometimes dropped after 'brauchen'.
Common phrases
- etwas brauchento need something
- Hilfe brauchento need help
- nicht brauchennot to need
- brauchen + zu + Infinitivto need to do something
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often say 'Ich brauche zu gehen' to mean 'I need to go', but this is not standard German. Instead, use 'Ich muss gehen' for strong necessity. In negative sentences or with 'nur', 'brauchen' + 'zu' + infinitive is correct and common, e.g., 'Du brauchst nicht zu kommen.'
Don’t confuse it with
- müssen — Müssen expresses obligation or necessity, while brauchen expresses need. In negative sentences, 'nicht brauchen' (often with zu + infinitive) and 'nicht müssen' both mean 'don't have to' / 'don't need to'; to express prohibition use 'nicht dürfen'.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'brauchen' and 'müssen'?
Brauchen means 'to need' and focuses on a requirement, while müssen means 'must' or 'have to' and focuses on obligation. In negative sentences, 'nicht brauchen' means 'don't need to', and 'nicht müssen' means 'don't have to' (similar meaning). To express prohibition, use 'nicht dürfen'.
How do you use 'brauchen' with another verb?
You can use 'brauchen' with 'zu' + infinitive, e.g., 'Du brauchst nicht zu kommen.' In colloquial speech, the 'zu' is often omitted: 'Du brauchst nicht kommen.'
Is 'brauchen' a regular verb?
Yes, brauchen is a regular weak verb: brauchte, hat gebraucht.