debiste
“debiste” means “you should have” in Spanish (expressing past regret or criticism (informal tú)).
you should haveAlso: you were supposed to, you had to
📝 In Action
Llegaste tarde. Debiste salir antes de casa.
B1You arrived late. You should have left home earlier.
Perdiste el autobús. Debiste revisar el horario.
B2You missed the bus. You should have checked the schedule.
Si tenías fiebre, debiste quedarte en cama.
B1If you had a fever, you were supposed to stay in bed.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: debiste
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Debiste haber comido algo antes'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb *deber* comes from the Latin verb *dēbēre*, which meant 'to owe' or 'to be bound to.' The idea of owing money or owing an action (a duty) is where the modern meanings of 'must' and 'should' come from.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th-12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'debiste' stronger than 'deberías'?
Yes. 'Deberías' (you should) offers gentle advice for the present or future. 'Debiste' (you should have) judges a past action, often implying that a mistake was made.
How do I use 'debiste' with another verb?
It is always followed by another verb in its base form (the infinitive). Example: 'Debiste estudiar' (You should have studied).