Requerirse

Requerirse is a Spanish verb that exists in its non-reflexive form as requerir and, in some contexts, in a pronominal or passive-reflexive construction with se. The word comes from Latin requirere, meaning to seek back, demand, or need.

Meaning and usage

The core meaning is to require or to need something or someone. In ordinary usage, it's often found in impersonal passive constructions with se: se requiere (it is required) or se requieren (they are required). This impersonal form is common in job postings, regulations, and formal notices: Se requieren dos voluntarios. También: Se requiere experiencia previa. In active voice, requerir takes a direct object: Este puesto requiere habilidades de comunicación.

The pronominal form, estar- or reciprocally-oriented uses of requerirse (me requiero, te requieres, se requiere, etc.) are rare and mostly found in more specialized or literary contexts. In everyday Spanish, speakers typically use the non-pronominal verb with se for the impersonal passive, or simply use requerir with a subject noun.

Etymology

Requerir derives from Latin requirere, formed by re- (“again, back”) and quaerere (“to seek, to ask”). The sense evolved to include need or demand as in modern Spanish.

Conjugation note

Requerir follows the standard -ir verb conjugation. Present indicative forms: yo requiero, tú requieres, él/ella/Ud. requiere, nosotros requerimos, vosotros requerís, ellos requieren. Preterite: requerí, requiriste, requirió, requerimos, requirieron. Subjunctive: requiera, requieras, requiera, requiramos, requiráis, requieran. Imperative afirmativo: requiere; negativo: no requieras. In passive impersonal uses with se: se requiere, se requieren.

See also

Requerir, se pasiva/reflexiva en español, vocabulario de necesidades y requisitos.