deber

noun

1. Obligation, duty. (m)

2. Debt. (m)

 

Hacer su deber -> to fulfil one’s duty

 

article & verb transitive

1. To owe, not to pay a debt which is due.

 

Me debes cinco dólares -> you owe me five dollars

Esto lo debe a la influencia francesa -> he owes this to French influence

 

verb neuter

2. To be obliged to, to be to, must, ought, would, have to. (n)

 

Debía ser -> must have been

Deber de -> must

Debo hacerlo -> I must do it

He debido perderlo -> I must have lost it

Debe de ser así -> it must be like that

No debe de ser muy caro -> it can’t be very dear

 

verb reflexive

 

Deberse a -> to be owing to

Se debe al mal tiempo -> it’s on account of the bad weather

Puede deberse a que -> it may be because....