Dutch

Verb

moeten

1. (intransitive) to be necessary, to be required
2. (auxiliary) to have to, must

   Hij moet gaan.

   He has to go; He must go.

   Moest je nog werken vanavond?

   Did you have to work tonight?

3. (auxiliary) should, be meant to

   Eigenlijk moet daar een schilderij hangen, maar het is laatst gestolen.

   A painting is really meant to be hanging there, but it was stolen recently.

   Dat moet je echt niet doen.

   You really should not do that.

4. (intransitive, informal) to need to go to the toilet

   Ik moet heel nodig!

   I really need to go badly!

Usage notes

The past tense moest can be used in the present. In Dutch, one can ask "Moest je nog werken vanavond?" which can mean both "did you have to work tonight?" and "do you have to work tonight?". This is similar to gaan.

Inflection

Synonyms

• (have to): verplicht zijn te
• (should): zou moeten, horen

Antonyms

• (have to, usually in negative sentences): hoeven

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch muotan, from Proto-Germanic *mōtaną.

Verb

moeten

1. (auxiliary) to have to, must, to be obliged to
2. (auxiliary) to be allowed to, to have permission to
3. (auxiliary) will, shall

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Dutch: moeten