notwendig

German

Etymology

An early modern German formation: Not (“need”) +‎ wendig (“maneuverable, agile”), originally “necessary to avert the distress”, compare die Not abwenden.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnoːtˌvɛndɪç/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈnoːtˌvɛndɪk/ (most southern German, Austrian, and Swiss speakers)

• Audio (Austria):

  (file)

Adjective

notwendig (comparative notwendiger, superlative am notwendigsten)

1. necessary; essential; indispensable

Synonyms

• nötig

Derived terms

• notwendigerweise
• Notwendigkeit

Further reading

• “notwendig” in Duden online