Inklingo
← Dictionary

debieron

deh-BYEH-rohn/deˈbjeɾon/

they had to

Also: you all had to, they were supposed to
VerbA2regular (in its conjugation pattern) er
A storybook illustration showing a man and a woman looking determinedly at a massive, colorful block they are preparing to push, symbolizing a necessary task or obligation.
infinitivedeber
gerunddebiendo
past Participledebido

📝 In Action

Ellos debieron firmar el contrato antes del mediodía.

A2

They had to sign the contract before noon.

Ustedes debieron avisar si el vuelo se retrasaba.

B1

You all (formal) were supposed to notify us if the flight was delayed.

Las niñas debieron estudiar más para el examen.

A2

The girls had to study more for the exam.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tuvieron que (they had to (simple necessity))
  • necesitaron (they needed)

Common Collocations

  • debieron irse – they had to leave
  • debieron esperar – they had to wait

they must have

Also: they probably
VerbB2regular (in its conjugation pattern) er
A storybook illustration of a fox and a bear, acting as investigators and wearing magnifying glasses, examining footprints near a puddle of spilled paint, representing a conclusion about a past event.

📝 In Action

No contestan el teléfono. Debieron salir de viaje.

B2

They aren't answering the phone. They must have left on a trip.

Los estudiantes no vinieron. Debieron enfermarse.

B2

The students didn't come. They must have gotten sick.

Word Connections

Synonyms

they owed

VerbB1regular (in its conjugation pattern) er
A storybook illustration depicting a rabbit and a squirrel carefully handing a small bag of gold coins to an owl, symbolizing the repayment of something they owed.

📝 In Action

Ellos debieron diez mil dólares al banco.

B1

They owed ten thousand dollars to the bank.

Los países debieron tributos al imperio romano.

B2

The countries owed tributes to the Roman Empire.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adeudaron (they indebted)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • debieron dinero – they owed money

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

preterite

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

present

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

imperfect

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

subjunctive

present

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

imperfect

él/ella/usteddebiera/debiese
ellos/ellas/ustedesdebieran/debiesen
vosotrosdebierais/debieseis
nosotrosdebiéramos/debiésemos
yodebiera/debiese
túdebieras/debieses
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "debieron" in Spanish:

they owed→they probably→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: debieron

Question 1 of 1

Which English sentence is the best translation for 'Ellos debieron estar cansados después del maratón'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
deber(to owe; must) — Verb
el deber(duty; homework) — Noun
la deuda(debt) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The verb 'deber' comes from the Latin verb *debere*, which meant 'to owe' or 'to be bound to.' The core meaning of obligation has remained strong throughout Spanish history.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: deverFrench: devoir

💡 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 'debieron' and 'debían'?

'Debieron' (the simple past) refers to a specific obligation or necessity that occurred and was completed at a defined time: 'They had to finish the report yesterday.' 'Debían' (the imperfect past) refers to an ongoing, habitual, or implied duty in the past, often translated as 'They used to have to' or 'They should have' (when expressing regret).