How to Say "you owe" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “you owe” is “debes” — use 'debes' when you are addressing one person informally (tú) and referring to a financial or moral obligation..
English → Spanish
debes
DEH-bess/ˈde.βes/
VerbA2Informal
Use 'debes' when you are addressing one person informally (tú) and referring to a financial or moral obligation.
Examples
Me debes diez euros desde la semana pasada.
You've owed me ten euros since last week.
No solo me debes dinero, me debes una disculpa.
You don't just owe me money, you owe me an apology.
Who You Owe
This meaning often uses little words like 'me' (to me), 'le' (to him/her), or 'nos' (to us) to show who is owed. For example, 'Le debes respeto' (You owe him/her respect).
debéis
Verb (Conjugated Form)B1Informal (Spain)
Use 'debéis' when you are addressing two or more people informally in Spain (vosotros) and referring to a financial debt.
Examples
¿Cuánto dinero debéis todavía por el coche nuevo?
How much money do you all still owe for the new car?
Informal Plural: Tú vs. Vosotros
The most common mistake is confusing 'debes' (singular informal 'you owe') with 'debéis' (plural informal 'you owe' in Spain). Remember that 'debes' is for one person, while 'debéis' is for a group of people you know well in Spain.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.