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A colorful storybook illustration of a determined small character standing at the base of a large, steep hill with a clearly marked, unavoidable path leading straight to the top, symbolizing necessity or obligation.

deberá

deh-beh-RAH

Verb (Conjugation)B1regular (in this tense) er
must?future obligation/necessity,will have to?future requirement
Also:should?strong future recommendation,will probably?future probability/supposition

Quick Reference

infinitivedeber
gerunddebiendo
past Participledebido

📝 In Action

El presidente deberá tomar una decisión difícil la próxima semana.

B1

The president must make a difficult decision next week.

Si no hay tráfico, el autobús deberá llegar en diez minutos.

B2

If there is no traffic, the bus will probably arrive in ten minutes.

Usted deberá firmar este documento antes de salir.

B1

You (formal) will have to sign this document before leaving.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tener que (to have to)
  • ser necesario (to be necessary)

Antonyms

  • poder evitar (to be able to avoid)

Common Collocations

  • deberá + infinitivo – must + verb (the required structure)
  • deberá cumplir – must comply

💡 Grammar Points

Future Obligation

The word 'deberá' means 'he/she/it must' or 'you (formal) must' do something in the future. It is a strong statement of requirement.

Expressing Probability

You can use 'deberá' to express a strong guess about a future event, similar to saying 'it will probably happen' or 'it must be true.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'debería' instead of 'deberá'

Mistake: "Using 'él debería' when you mean a strong, mandatory requirement."

Correction: Use 'deberá' for official rules or certain necessity. 'Debería' means 'should' (a recommendation), which is much softer.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

'Deberá' is often seen in legal documents, official instructions, or formal warnings, emphasizing the mandatory nature of the action.

✏️ 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

deber(to owe; to must) - verb
el deber(duty, homework) - noun
debido(due, owed) - adjective

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').