Debia (en. Should)

/deˈβi.a/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

Indicates an obligation or need that existed in the past.

I should have studied more for the exam.

Yo debía estudiar más para el examen.

Refers to a moral or ethical duty that was not fulfilled.

I should have helped my friend with his problem.

Debía haber ayudado a mi amigo en su problema.

Means that something was necessary or required in a previous situation.

She should have gone to the doctor, but she didn't.

Ella debía ir al médico, pero no lo hizo.

From Latin 'debere', which means to possess, to be obliged to.

I should have

indicates that one regrets not having done something in the past.

debía haber

I owed a lot

referred to monetary or moral debts.

debía mucho

I should be

expresses an unmet expectation in the past.

debía ser

duty

Obligation or need to do something.

deber

debt

Amount of money owed to someone.

deuda

moral duty

Ethical responsibility that one must fulfill.

deber moral

To be obliged to do something that one does not want to do.

Yesterday I was supposed to go to the meeting, but I stayed at home.

Ayer debía ir a la reunión, pero me quedé en casa.

To have an outstanding debt with someone.

I owed him a favor, and that's why I helped him.

Le debía un favor y por eso lo ayudé.