Debía (en. Should)

/de'βi.a/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

Indicates an obligation or need in the past.

I should have studied more for the exam.

Yo debía estudiar más para el examen.

Expresses something that was expected or was the case in the past.

He should have arrived at five, but he arrived at six.

Él debía llegar a las cinco, pero llegó a las seis.

Indicates responsibility or duty in a past context.

I should have helped my parents with the housework.

Debía ayudar a mis padres con el trabajo de la casa.

From the verb 'deber', which comes from the Latin 'debere'.

what should be

refers to a situation that was expected or considered fair.

lo que debía ser

to have to

indicates an obligation or recommendation.

deber de

should have

indicates something that was expected to happen.

debía haber

duty

obligation or need to do something.

deber

should

indicates an obligation or recommendation in a future or conditional context.

debería

To owe something in colloquial terms.

Today I should have gone to the party, but I didn't go.

Hoy debía ir a la fiesta, pero no fui.

To refer to a lack of responsibility.

He always should have but never did.

Él siempre debía pero nunca lo hacía.