Using it for Strong Orders

'Deberíamos' is the 'we' form for making suggestions or giving advice. It's much softer and more polite than saying 'tenemos que' (we have to).

Making Polite Suggestions

After 'deberíamos', the very next verb is always in its original, unchanged form (like 'comer', 'hablar', 'vivir'). For example: 'Deberíamos *ir* al cine.'

Follow with the Base Verb

To make a suggestion even gentler, you can add 'quizás' or 'tal vez' (maybe) at the beginning. 'Quizás deberíamos pedir una pizza.' (Maybe we should order a pizza.)

Soften Your Advice

Extremely common. This is one of the main ways to make a suggestion or give friendly advice as a group.

Confusing a Guess with Advice

You can use 'deberíamos' to say what you think is probably true based on evidence. It's like saying 'we must be...' in English when you're making a logical deduction.

Making a Good Guess

In some regions, especially in more formal Spanish, people add 'de' after the verb to make it extra clear they are making a guess: 'Deberíamos de estar en la lista' (We must be on the list).

Making it Clear with 'de'

A less common but important meaning, used to express a strong probability or make a logical guess.

Learn the full meaning of 'deberíamos' in Spanish. Understand its use for giving advice ('we should') and making logical guesses ('we must be'). Includes full conjugation of 'deber', examples, and common mistakes.

deberíamos

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

future

imperfect

conditional

preterite

imperative

negative

affirmative

subjunctive

present

imperfect

Practice Conjugations