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notwendig

necessary

adjective NOHT-ven-dikh Less Common

Also means

essential

Usage Note

notwendig builds on Not ('need, distress') and wenden ('to turn'), originally 'turning away need'. It's the standard word for 'necessary'; the noun Notwendigkeit means 'necessity', and unbedingt notwendig stresses 'absolutely essential'.

Examples

"Diese Reform ist notwendig."

Natural Translation

This reform is necessary.

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