deberán
/deh-beh-RAHN/
they will have to
The children will have to wear raincoats to stay dry outside.
deberán(verb)
they will have to
?expressing a future requirement
you all must
?addressing a group in a formal way
,they shall
?legal or official requirements
📝 In Action
Los alumnos deberán traer sus libros mañana.
A2The students will have to bring their books tomorrow.
Ustedes deberán registrarse al llegar al hotel.
B1You all must register upon arriving at the hotel.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking about Others in the Future
This word is the 'future' form of 'deber' when you are talking about a group of people (they) or addressing a group (you all). It tells them what they will be required to do later.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't forget the accent
Mistake: "deberan"
Correction: deberán (The accent on the 'á' is vital because it tells you to stress the end of the word; without it, the word is pronounced incorrectly.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Tone
While 'tienen que' is used for daily chores, 'deberán' is better for rules, instructions, or when you want to sound very polite and official.
Based on the wet umbrella, it must be raining outside.
deberán(verb)
must (most likely)
?making a guess about a current situation
they probably are
?expressing probability
📝 In Action
Deberán ser las diez ya.
B2It must be ten o'clock already (guessing the time).
Ellos no han llegado; deberán estar en el tráfico.
B2They haven't arrived; they must be stuck in traffic.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Strong Guess' Future
Even though this looks like a future word ('will'), Spanish speakers use it to make a guess about what is happening right now. It's like saying 'I'll bet they are...'
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding 'de'
You might hear 'deberán de ser'. Adding 'de' often emphasizes that you are making a guess rather than stating a strict rule.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: deberán
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses 'deberán' as a rule for others?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'deberán' mean they HAVE to do it or they MIGHT do it?
It usually means they HAVE to do it. It is a future obligation. However, in casual conversation, it can also mean 'they probably are', depending on if you are giving a command or making a guess.
Why is there an accent on the 'a'?
Future tense verbs for 'they' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) always end in '-án' with an accent to ensure the stress stays on the final syllable.