How to Say "they owed" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “they owed” is “debían” — use 'debían' to describe an ongoing or habitual debt in the past, implying the obligation continued over a period of time or was in the process of being fulfilled.
Use 'debían' to describe an ongoing or habitual debt in the past, implying the obligation continued over a period of time or was in the process of being fulfilled.
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Use 'debieron' to refer to a specific, completed past debt or obligation that was due or fulfilled at a particular point in the past.
Learn more →deh-BEE-ahndeˈβi.an
Examples
Los agricultores debían mucho dinero al banco.
The farmers owed a lot of money to the bank.
Ellos no debían nada a nadie, eran libres de deudas.
They didn't owe anything to anyone; they were debt-free.
Owed Money
When 'deber' is followed by a noun (like 'dinero' or 'un favor'), it means 'to owe' that thing. 'Debían' describes this state of owing in the past.
deh-BYEH-rohndeˈbjeɾon
Examples
Ellos debieron diez mil dólares al banco.
They owed ten thousand dollars to the bank.
Los países debieron tributos al imperio romano.
The countries owed tributes to the Roman Empire.
Direct Object Needed
When 'debieron' means 'owed,' it must have a direct object (what was owed): 'Debieron el libro' (They owed the book).
Imperfect vs. Preterite for Debts
The most common mistake is confusing the imperfect ('debían') with the preterite ('debieron'). 'Debían' is used for ongoing or habitual past debts, while 'debieron' refers to a specific, completed past obligation. Think about whether the debt was a continuous state or a single, finished event.
Related Translations
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