debimos

/deh-BEE-mohs/

we had to

Two small figures straining together, pulling a large, heavy, square block up a slight incline using a thick rope, symbolizing a difficult past obligation.

This image shows a past necessity or obligation: 'We had to' (debimos) pull the heavy load.

debimos(verb)

A2regular er

we had to

past obligation/necessity

we owed

past financial/moral debt

Also:

we were obliged to

formal necessity

📝 In Action

Debimos ir al hospital inmediatamente.

We had to go to the hospital immediately.

Debimos dinero a nuestros padres por el viaje.

We owed money to our parents for the trip.

¿Qué debimos hacer en esa situación?

What were we supposed to do in that situation?

Word Connections

Synonyms

tuvimos que (we had to (obligation))
necesitamos (we needed)

Common Collocations

debimos actuar – we had to act
debimos pagar – we owed/had to pay

💡 Grammar Points

Simple Past (Preterite) Use

The form 'debimos' is used when the obligation or debt started and ended at a specific time in the past, making it a completed action.

⭐ Usage Tips

Obligation vs. Debt

When 'deber' means 'to owe,' it usually takes a direct object (money, a favor). When it means 'had to,' it is followed by another verb: 'Debimos [hacer algo]'.

Two sad storybook characters standing outside a tall, closed, iron gate, looking down with expressions of sadness and regret for a missed opportunity.

Expressing regret for an unfulfilled duty: 'We should have' (debimos) done something, but the opportunity is now lost.

debimos(verb)

B1regular er

we should have

expressing regret or unfulfilled duty

Also:

we ought to have

moral advice

📝 In Action

Debimos haber llamado a la policía antes.

We should have called the police earlier (but we didn't).

No debimos haber comido tanto postre.

We shouldn't have eaten so much dessert (we regret it).

Debimos haberlo pensado mejor.

We should have thought about it better.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tendríamos que haber (we would have had to (similar meaning of unfulfilled necessity))

Common Collocations

debimos haber + participio – we should have + past action

💡 Grammar Points

Regret Structure

To express 'should have done something' (regret), you MUST use the structure: 'Debimos' + 'haber' + the past action verb (e.g., 'visto,' 'ido,' 'dicho').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Up 'Had To' and 'Should Have'

Mistake: "Using 'debimos' alone for regret (e.g., 'Debimos estudiar más')."

Correction: To express regret, add 'haber': 'Debimos haber estudiado más.' Using 'debimos estudiar más' usually means 'We *had* to study more' (simple past obligation).

🔄 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 / debiese

yodebiera / debiese

túdebieras / debieses

ellos/ellas/ustedesdebieran / debiesen

nosotrosdebiéramos / debiésemos

vosotrosdebierais / debieseis

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: debimos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence expresses regret about a past action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

deber(to owe, must, should) - verb

el deber(duty, homework) - noun

debido(due, proper) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'debimos' and 'deberíamos'?

'Debimos' is the simple past (preterite) and refers to a specific, completed obligation: 'We had to.' 'Deberíamos' is the conditional tense and means 'We should' (right now) or 'We should have' (expressing mild advice, not strong regret). However, for strong past regret, 'debimos haber' is better.

Since 'debimos' is the 'nosotros' form, how do I say 'I should have'?

You would use the 'yo' form of the conditional tense followed by 'haber': 'Yo debería haber...' (I should have...). For stronger regret, you could also use the preterite: 'Debí haber...' (I should have...).