Deber

Deber is a Spanish word that functions as both a noun and a verb, with related meanings centered on obligation, duty, and obligation to repay or owe. In everyday language it most commonly denotes what one ought to do or is required to do, and it can also refer to something owed, such as a debt.

As a noun, deber primarily means duty, obligation, or responsibility. It is used in personal, civic, legal, and ethical contexts to describe actions expected or required of someone. Examples include “cumplir con sus deberes” (to fulfill one’s duties), “deber cívico” (civic duty), and “deber moral” (mailing moral obligation). In some contexts the word can also convey the notion of something owed, as in financial or contractual obligations.

As a verb, deber means to owe or to must/should. It is an irregular but predictable verb in its conjugation: present tense forms are debo, debes, debe, debemos, debéis, deben; imperfect is debía, debías, debía, debíamos, debíais, debían; preterite is debí, debiste, debió, debimos, debisteis, debieron. It is used to express obligation or necessity, often with an infinitive: “Debo terminar el informe” (I must finish the report). It can also express advice or expectation with “debería” (I should). A less common construction, “deber de + infinitive,” expresses supposition about a present situation, as in “Debe de estar cansado” (He must be tired).

Etymology traces the word to Latin debēre, meaning to owe or ought. Cognates exist in other Romance languages (devoir in French, dovere in Italian). Deber remains a foundational term in Spanish for discussing duties, responsibilities, and owed obligations.