trzeba

Trzeba is an impersonal predicative form in Polish used to express necessity or obligation. It means “it is necessary” or “one must” and is not conjugated for a subject. The construction is typically followed by a bare infinitive or by a clause introduced with a particle such as żeby.

In the present, trzeba dominates ordinary statements of necessity: Trzeba pić wodę. Trzeba pracować, żeby zdać egzamin. The expression does not specify who must perform the action; the obligation is generalized. In the past, necessity is conveyed with trzeba było: Trzeba było iść wcześniej. For future necessity, Polish can use either będzie trzeba or trzeba będzie: Będzie trzeba zmienić plan, Trzeba będzie to zrobić jutro.

Trzeba can also introduce more complex structures, such as a finite clause with że or żeby: Trzeba, żebyśmy poszli. In negation, nie trzeba negates the action: Nie trzeba jechać teraz. Past negation: Nie trzeba było czekać.

Etymology and relation to other terms: trzeba is historically linked to the notion of need (potrzeba) and to the Proto-Slavic root meaning “to require.” It is often contrasted with musieć, which also expresses obligation but with a stronger sense of obligation or necessity anchored to a subject’s duties or circumstances.

Usage notes: trzeb a is versatile in formal and informal Polish, common in instructions, advisories, and everyday speech. Because it is impersonal, it usually carries a neutral or objective tone and does not assign moral blame.