Ser menester -> to be necessary, to be wanting

Question

I never heard this word menestar which appears to be like necesario. Es necesario que....... es menester que....... would this be understood in Mexico? I love using unusual but well understood words.

Answer 1

Yup. Synonym with necesario.

menester.

(Del lat. minister?um).

1. m. Falta o necesidad de algo.

2. m. Oficio u ocupación habitual U. m. en pl.

3. m. pl. Necesidades fisiológicas.

4. m. pl. coloq. Instrumentos o cosas necesarias para los oficios u otros usos.

haber ~ algo.

1. loc. verb. Necesitarlo.

no haber alguien ~ andadores.

1. loc. verb. coloq. poder andar sin andadores.

ser ~ algo.

1. loc. verb. Ser preciso o necesario.

ser ~ la cruz y los ciriales.

1. loc. verb. coloq. Ser necesarias muchas diligencias para lograr algo.

Awesome, necesario goes out the window and is replaced by menester. - jeezzle, Nov 7, 2011

It is a bit stuffier thatn necessario. You may find that some of your buddies may not understand you. :-) - Gekkosan, Nov 7, 2011

Well, I'll test it out at least. ;) - jeezzle, Nov 7, 2011

yeah it's definitely stuffier, but that doesn't mean it's not cool that you know it! - unMica, Nov 7, 2011

Answer 2

I came across this word today so I'll add my two cents. Ser menester + infinitivo. Es más culto o literario decir: Para aprender un idioma es menester practicarlo mucho. Hope that makes sense.

Answer 3

Es menester que lo hagamos sin demora - We must do it without delay.

Menester can also be used with (tarea) occupation.

Se ganaba la vida en los menesteres más diversos - He earned his living from some very diverse activities.

Yes just learned ganarse la vida expression yesterday watching Diarios de motocicleta. - jeezzle, Nov 7, 2011