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besoin

need

noun buh-ZWAN Common

Usage Note

Besoin almost never stands alone: the workhorse construction is avoir besoin de, so j'ai besoin de toi means 'I need you' where English uses a plain verb. The impersonal si besoin means if necessary, and les besoins in the plural are one's needs.

Examples

"J'ai besoin de repos."

Natural Translation

I need some rest.

Literal Translation

I have need of rest.

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