deben
“deben” means “they must” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
they must, they have to
Also: they should, they ought to
📝 In Action
Ellos deben terminar la tarea antes de salir.
A2They must finish the homework before going out.
Ustedes deben respetar las reglas del juego.
A2You (all) must respect the rules of the game.
Los doctores dicen que todos deben comer más verduras.
B1Doctors say that everyone should eat more vegetables.
they must be
Also: they probably are
📝 In Action
No contestan el teléfono. Deben estar ocupados.
B1They're not answering the phone. They must be busy.
Las luces están apagadas, así que deben de haber salido ya.
B1The lights are off, so they must have already left.
Marta y Luis son muy altos. Sus padres deben ser altos también.
B2Marta and Luis are very tall. Their parents must be tall too.
they owe
📝 In Action
Ellos me deben cincuenta euros de la cena de anoche.
A2They owe me fifty euros from last night's dinner.
Si no pagan hoy, todavía deben el alquiler del mes pasado.
B1If they don't pay today, they still owe last month's rent.
Ustedes me deben una disculpa por llegar tan tarde.
B1You (all) owe me an apology for arriving so late.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: deben
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'Las calles están mojadas; deben haber llovido,' what does 'deben' mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'dēbēre', which meant 'to owe'. This was formed from 'dē-' (meaning 'from' or 'away') and 'habēre' (meaning 'to have'). The original idea was 'to have something from someone else,' which is the essence of owing something.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'deben' and 'tienen que'?
'Deben' is often about a moral obligation, a recommendation, or a duty ('They should be more careful'). 'Tienen que' is usually for a stronger, more unavoidable necessity, often from an external rule ('They have to wear a helmet'). In many everyday situations, you can use either, but 'tienen que' sounds a bit stronger.
Is 'deben de' different from 'deben'?
Traditionally, yes. 'Deben de' was used only for making a guess ('They must be tired'). 'Deben' was for obligation ('They must work'). However, in modern Spanish, many people use 'deben' for both meanings and the 'de' is often dropped. So, you'll hear both, but context will always tell you which meaning is intended.