deberá
“deberá” means “must” in Spanish (future obligation/necessity).
must, will have to
Also: should, will probably
📝 In Action
El presidente deberá tomar una decisión difícil la próxima semana.
B1The president must make a difficult decision next week.
Si no hay tráfico, el autobús deberá llegar en diez minutos.
B2If there is no traffic, the bus will probably arrive in ten minutes.
Usted deberá firmar este documento antes de salir.
B1You (formal) will have to sign this document before leaving.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: deberá
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'deberá' to express a strong assumption about the present or near future?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *dēbēre*, which meant 'to owe' or 'to be bound to.' This original sense of financial or moral obligation is still present in Spanish.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th-12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'deberá' and 'debería'?
'Deberá' (future tense) expresses a necessity or a very high probability for a future event ('He must go'). 'Debería' (conditional tense) expresses a recommendation or duty that is not strictly mandatory ('He should go').
Who does 'deberá' refer to?
'Deberá' is the third-person singular form, meaning it refers to 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), 'usted' (you, formal), or any singular noun (like 'el coche' or 'la empresa').