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How to Say "owed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

debía

verbA2common
Use 'debía' (imperfect past tense of deber) when referring to a past state of owing something, like money or a favor, without a specific end point or completion in mind.

Examples

Yo debía mucho dinero al banco.

I owed a lot of money to the bank.

debió

verbA2common
Use 'debió' (preterite past tense of deber) when referring to a past action of owing, often implying a specific instance or a completed action of incurring a debt.

Examples

Ella debió tres meses de alquiler antes de mudarse.

She owed three months of rent before moving.

debido

/deh-BEE-doh//deˈβi.ðo/

past participleB1less common
Use 'debido' as a past participle, often in passive constructions or when meaning 'due' or 'owing to', rather than the direct action of owing money.
A cartoon character standing on a path, looking back wistfully at a sign pointing toward a clearly visible, sunny destination they decided not to take, symbolizing regret.

Examples

El pago debido se retrasó.

The payment owed was delayed.

He debido llamarte antes.

I should have called you earlier.

Nunca has debido tanto dinero.

You have never owed so much money.

Partner for the Verb 'Haber'

This form of 'debido' teams up with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create verb tenses that look back on past obligations. For example, 'he debido' (I should have), 'habías debido' (you had owed).

Imperfect vs. Preterite for 'Owed'

The most common confusion is between 'debía' and 'debió'. Think about whether you're describing a continuous state of owing in the past ('debía') or a specific, completed instance of owing ('debió').

Related Translations

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