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    Debió (en. Should have)

    /deˈβjo/

    Meaning & Definition

    EnglishSpanish
    verb
    Indicates the obligation or necessity to do something in the past.
    He should have studied more for the exam.
    Él debió estudiar más para el examen.
    Expresses a supposition or deduction about something that happened in the past.
    It must have rained last night, since the ground is wet.
    Debió llover anoche, ya que el suelo está mojado.
    Used to refer to something that was expected to happen in the past.
    She should have arrived a long time ago.
    Ella debió llegar hace mucho tiempo.

    Etymology

    From Latin 'debere', which means 'to owe' or 'to have to'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    must have been
    Indicates a supposition about a past event.
    debió de ser
    if he/she should have done it
    Expresses a reiteration of a past obligation.
    si debió hacerlo
    should have waited
    Suggests that someone did not meet an expectation in the past.
    debió esperar

    Related Words

    to owe
    Obligation to perform an action.
    deber
    they should
    Conditional of the verb 'to owe' in plural.
    deberían
    he/she/it owes
    Present form of the verb 'to owe' in third person.
    debe

    Slang Meanings

    It is often used in a more colloquial context to refer to unmet obligations.
    Oh, he should have done the homework instead of going out to play!
    ¡Ay, debió hacer la tarea en vez de salir a jugar!
    Used in jokes about unfulfilled promises.
    That gift should have arrived, but I didn't see it anywhere.
    Ese regalo debió llegar, pero no lo vi por ningún lado.