debió
“debió” means “must have (done something)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
must have (done something)
Also: probably
📝 In Action
No contestó el teléfono. Debió estar ocupado.
B1He didn't answer the phone. He must have been busy.
La caída debió doler muchísimo.
B2The fall must have hurt a lot.
Perdió las llaves. ¡Qué despistado! Debió dejarlas en el coche.
B1He lost his keys. How careless! He must have left them in the car.
owed
Also: had to (do something)
📝 In Action
Ella debió tres meses de alquiler antes de mudarse.
A2She owed three months of rent before moving.
El presidente debió un favor a su equipo de campaña.
B1The president owed a favor to his campaign team.
En ese momento, solo me debió cinco euros.
A2At that moment, he only owed me five euros.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: debió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'debió' to express a strong guess about the past?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *debere*, meaning 'to owe,' which itself is a contraction of *dehibere* (meaning 'to hold from'). The core concept has always been about having an obligation or debt.
First recorded: 13th century (in current form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'debió' and 'debía'?
'Debió' (preterite) emphasizes a completed action or a strong, specific deduction (He must have called). 'Debía' (imperfect) refers to a continuous state of obligation in the past (He was supposed to call, but we don't know if he did) or a continuous debt (He always owed me money).
Can I use 'debió' for simple obligation, like 'He had to go'?
While technically possible, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer 'tuvo que ir' (preterite of 'tener que') for simple, completed necessity. Save 'debió' for expressing probability or a financial debt.