debéis
“debéis” means “you must” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
you must, you shouldAlso: you ought to
📝 In Action
Para entender la lección, debéis leer el capítulo dos.
A1To understand the lesson, you all must read chapter two.
Si estáis cansados, debéis tomar un descanso ahora mismo.
A2If you are tired, you should take a break right now.
Word Connections
you oweAlso: you are indebted to
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto dinero debéis todavía por el coche nuevo?
B1How much money do you all still owe for the new car?
Debéis una disculpa a vuestros padres por lo que hicisteis.
B2You all owe an apology to your parents for what you did.
Word Connections
Indicative
Preterite
Present
Imperfect
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: debéis
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'debéis' to talk about owing money?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology
'Debéis' comes from the Latin verb *dēbēre*, which meant 'to owe' or 'to be under obligation.' The meaning has remained very consistent over time, covering both financial obligations and moral duties.
First recorded: Old Spanish (c. 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'debéis' used outside of Spain?
No. 'Debéis' is the second-person plural informal ('vosotros') form, which is almost exclusively used in Spain. In nearly all of Latin America, the equivalent is 'deben' (the 'ustedes' form).
How do I make the obligation stronger or weaker?
The present tense 'debéis' is a firm obligation ('must'). To make it a softer recommendation ('should'), you would use the conditional form: 'deberíais'.