debí
/deh-BEE/
I had to
Visualizing "I had to": The child facing the required door illustrates a past necessity or obligation that was required of them.
debí(verb)
I had to
?past necessity or obligation
,I should have
?expressing regret (when followed by an infinitive, e.g., 'debí estudiar')
I was supposed to
?past expectation
📝 In Action
Debí ir al médico ayer, pero no lo hice.
A2I had to go to the doctor yesterday, but I didn't do it.
¡Debí escuchar tu consejo!
B1I should have listened to your advice!
Cuando me llamaste, debí contestar inmediatamente.
B1When you called me, I had to answer immediately.
💡 Grammar Points
Obligation in the Past (Preterite)
Using 'debí' emphasizes a single, completed obligation or necessity in the past. It means 'I had to' or 'I was required to.'
Expressing Regret
When 'debí' is followed by the helping verb 'haber' and a past participle (e.g., 'debí haber estudiado'), it translates to 'I should have...' and expresses strong regret.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Debí vs. Debía
Mistake: "Using 'debí' when referring to a continuous or habitual past obligation (e.g., 'Every day, I should have studied')."
Correction: Use the imperfect tense 'debía' for continuous or habitual past obligations ('Todos los días, yo debía estudiar'). Use 'debí' for a specific, one-time past event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Failure
In conversations, saying 'debí...' (I should have) often implies that you failed to do what was necessary, making it useful for apologies or self-criticism.
Visualizing "I owed": The squirrel paying the owl illustrates the past action of owing and settling a financial debt.
📝 In Action
Le debí mucho dinero a mi hermano, pero ya se lo pagué.
A2I owed my brother a lot of money, but I already paid him.
Debí un favor al jefe por ayudarme con ese proyecto.
B1I owed the boss a favor for helping me with that project.
💡 Grammar Points
Owe to Whom?
When using 'debí' in the sense of 'to owe,' you almost always need the preposition 'a' (to) to specify who was owed, especially when referring to a person: 'Le debí cien a mi amigo' (I owed 100 to my friend).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you see 'debí' followed by a currency or the word 'favor,' it almost certainly means 'I owed' (Definition 2). Otherwise, assume it means 'I had to' (Definition 1).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: debí
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence expresses regret?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'debí' and 'debería'?
'Debí' (I had to/I should have) is a firm statement about a past obligation or a specific past regret. 'Debería' (I should) is the conditional form, used for ongoing advice or recommendations in the present ('I should eat better') or a weaker future obligation ('I should call her later').