Devions (en. Had to)

/de.vjɔ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicate an obligation or something that must be done.

We had to finish the project before the deadline.

Nous devions terminer le projet avant la date limite.

Express a necessity that existed in the past.

At the time, we had to study more to succeed.

À l'époque, nous devions étudier plus pour réussir.

Allude to a situation where a choice was expected or required.

In this discussion, we had to make an important decision.

Dans cette discussion, nous devions prendre une décision importante.

The verb 'devoir' comes from the Latin 'debere', which means 'to be bound or obligated'.

We had to talk about it.

We had the obligation to discuss it.

Nous devions en parler

It was necessary for us to have to.

It was necessary that we were compelled to do that.

Il fallait que nous devions

Did we really have to?

Did we really have the obligation to do that?

Devions-nous vraiment

devoir

Obligation or imposed responsibility.

devoir

devin

One who predicts the future.

devin

devise

Motto or slogan serving as an expression of an ideal.

devise

We had to.

We had to meet yesterday.

On devait se rencontrer hier.

We had to.

We had to finish this work.

Fallait qu'on finisse ce travail.