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debería

deh-beh-REE-ah/de.βeˈɾi.a/

“debería” means “should” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

should

Also: ought to
VerbB1regular er
A friendly figure gently suggesting a positive action to another person, symbolizing giving advice.
infinitivedeber
gerunddebiendo
past Participledebido

📝 In Action

Deberías llamar a tu abuela más a menudo.

B1

You should call your grandmother more often.

Creo que debería estudiar más para el examen.

B1

I think I should study more for the exam.

No deberíamos comer tanto chocolate.

B1

We shouldn't eat so much chocolate.

¿Debería aceptar el trabajo?

B2

Should I accept the job?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tendría que (would have to)
  • habría que (one would have to)

Common Collocations

  • debería haber hecho algo – should have done something
  • no debería – shouldn't

should be / should

Also: is probably, is supposed to
VerbB2regular er
A brightly colored delivery package arriving perfectly on a doorstep under a sunny sky, symbolizing expectation.
infinitivedeber
gerunddebiendo
past Participledebido

📝 In Action

El paquete debería llegar mañana.

B2

The package should arrive tomorrow.

Juan no está aquí, debería de estar en la oficina.

B2

Juan isn't here, he must be (is probably) at the office.

Ya son las ocho, el restaurante debería estar abierto.

B2

It's already eight o'clock, the restaurant should be open.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • debería de ser – must be / is probably

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/usteddebe
yodebo
túdebes
ellos/ellas/ustedesdeben
nosotrosdebemos
vosotrosdebéis

imperfect

él/ella/usteddebía
yodebía
túdebías
ellos/ellas/ustedesdebían
nosotrosdebíamos
vosotrosdebíais

preterite

él/ella/usteddebió
yodebí
túdebiste
ellos/ellas/ustedesdebieron
nosotrosdebimos
vosotrosdebisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/usteddeba
yodeba
túdebas
ellos/ellas/ustedesdeban
nosotrosdebamos
vosotrosdebáis

imperfect

él/ella/usteddebiera
yodebiera
túdebieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesdebieran
nosotrosdebiéramos
vosotrosdebierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: debería

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'debería' to give friendly advice?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
deber(to owe; a duty) — Verb / Noun
debido(due, proper) — Adjective
debido a(due to, because of) — Preposition
🎵 Rhymes▼
haríadiríaalegríadía
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb `dēbēre`, which means 'to owe'. The idea of 'owing' something evolved into having a duty or obligation to do something, which is where we get the modern meaning of 'should'.

First recorded: Around the 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: debtFrench: devoirItalian: dovere

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'debería' and 'deberías'?

They are both forms of the same verb, 'deber'. 'Debería' is used for 'I' (yo), 'he/she' (él/ella), and 'you (formal)' (usted). 'Deberías' is specifically for 'you (informal)' (tú). So you would say 'Yo debería...' but 'Tú deberías...'

Is 'debería' the same as 'tendría que' (would have to)?

They are very similar, but 'tendría que' often implies a stronger need or a condition. 'Debería' is more of a general suggestion ('You should sleep'). 'Tendría que' is more like 'I would have to (if something else happens)'. For example, 'Tendría que trabajar más si quisiera comprar un coche' (I would have to work more if I wanted to buy a car).

How do I say 'should have' in Spanish?

You combine the form of 'debería' with the word 'haber' and then the past participle of the main verb. For example: 'Debería haber estudiado' means 'I should have studied'. 'No deberías haber dicho eso' means 'You shouldn't have said that'.