צריך

צריך

Hebrew

Root
צ־ר־ך‎ (ṣ-r-k)

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /t͡saˈʁiχ/
• (Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /t͡sɔ.rix/
• (Sephardi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /saˈrix/
• (Tiberian Hebrew, Yemenite Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤɔˈrix/
• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /sˤaːˈrik/, [sˤaːˈrix]

Adjective

צָרִיךְ • (tsaríkh) (feminine צְרִיכָה‎, masculine plural צְרִיכִים‎, feminine plural צְרִיכוֹת‎) [pattern: קָטִיל]

1. Needing, in need of (something).

   אני צריכה את הספר.‎ — aní tsrikhá ét haséfer. — I need the book.

   הם צריכים חלב?‎ — hém tsrikhím khaláv? — Do they need milk?

2. Needing to, having to, obligated to (do something), should.
   • a. 217 C.E., Mishnah, Avot 6:3:

     ‏הַלּוֹמֵד מֵחֲבֵרוֹ פֶּרֶק אֶחָד אוֹ הֲלָכָה אַחַת אוֹ פָסוּק אֶחָד אוֹ דִבּוּר אֶחָד אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ אוֹת אַחַת, צָרִיךְ לִנְהוֹג בּוֹ כָבוֹד‎

     Hallomeḏ meḥǎvero pɛrɛq ʾɛḥɔḏ ʾo hǎlɔḵɔ ʾaḥaṯ ʾo pɔsuq ʾɛḥɔḏ ʾo dibur ʾɛḥɔḏ ʾo ʾǎfillu ʾoṯ ʾaḥaṯ, ṣɔriḵ linhoġ bo ḵɔvoḏ.

     Whoever learns from his fellow one chapter or one halakha or one verse or one word, or even one letter, should treat him with respect.

   באיזו שעה אתם צריכים להיות שם?‎ — b'éizo sha'á atém tsrikhím lihyót sham? — At what time do you have to be there?

   הוא לא צריך לריב איתה.‎ — hu lo tsaríkh larív itá. — He shouldn't fight with her.

Usage notes

• While צריך is an adjective, it is used in much the same way as a present-tense verb. In particular, it takes a direct object, using the preposition את‎ (ét) if the object is semantically definite.

See also

• זָקוּק‎