debemos
/deh-BEH-mohs/
we must
In this context, debemos (we must/we should) signifies a strong, shared obligation or necessity.
debemos(Verb)
we must
?strong obligation
,we have to
?necessity
we should
?recommendation or advice
,we ought to
?moral duty
📝 In Action
Debemos terminar la tarea antes de salir.
A2We must finish the homework before going out.
Si queremos estar sanos, debemos comer más verduras.
B1If we want to be healthy, we should eat more vegetables.
Debemos respetar las opiniones de los demás.
B1We ought to respect the opinions of others.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing 'Should' vs. 'Must'
'Debemos' is flexible. It can mean a strong command like 'we must' or gentler advice like 'we should'. The situation usually makes the meaning clear.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Debemos' vs. 'Tenemos que'
Mistake: "Thinking 'debemos' and 'tenemos que' are exactly the same."
Correction: They're very close! Use 'tenemos que' for a practical necessity ('We have to buy milk'). Use 'debemos' when there's also a sense of moral duty ('We should help'). But in many cases, you can use either.
⭐ Usage Tips
Softer Advice
To sound less demanding and more like you're giving friendly advice, use 'deberíamos'. It's the equivalent of saying 'we should' in a very polite way.
When referring to money or favors, debemos means 'we owe' or 'we are indebted to.'
📝 In Action
Le debemos cincuenta euros a mi hermano.
A2We owe my brother fifty euros.
Te debemos una disculpa por llegar tarde.
B1We owe you an apology for being late.
Les debemos mucho a nuestros padres.
B1We owe a lot to our parents.
💡 Grammar Points
Who You Owe
When you say who you owe something to, you usually use 'a' or words like 'le' and 'les'. For example: 'Le debemos dinero a Juan' (We owe money to Juan).
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Money
Remember you can 'owe' things that aren't money, like an explanation ('una explicación'), an apology ('una disculpa'), or respect ('respeto').
Used for making a guess or supposition, debemos (we must be/we are probably) describes a logical conclusion based on visual evidence.
debemos(Verb)
we must be
?supposition, e.g., 'we must be lost'
we are probably
?making a guess
📝 In Action
No has comido nada en todo el día, debes de tener hambre.
B1You haven't eaten all day, you must be hungry.
El cielo está muy oscuro, debe de llover pronto.
B1The sky is very dark, it must be going to rain soon.
💡 Grammar Points
Making a Guess with 'deber de'
To make it clear you're guessing, you can add 'de' after 'debemos' (e.g., 'debemos de estar cerca'). However, in everyday speech, many people leave the 'de' out, so you'll hear both.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Obligation and Probability
Mistake: "'Debemos estudiar' (We must study)."
Correction: 'Debemos de estudiar' (We must be studying, i.e., I guess we are). The little word 'de' can change the meaning from a command to a guess. Pay attention to the context!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: debemos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'We probably are tired'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'debemos' and 'deberíamos'?
'Debemos' is a statement of fact or a strong suggestion: 'We must/should do this.' 'Deberíamos' is softer and more hypothetical, like giving advice: 'We probably should do this' or 'It would be a good idea if we did this.' Use 'deberíamos' to be more polite.
Is 'debemos de' always necessary for making a guess?
Technically, using 'de' (debemos de...) is the classic way to show you're making a guess. However, in modern spoken Spanish, it's very common to drop the 'de' and just say 'debemos...' even when guessing. The context almost always makes the meaning clear.