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Spanish frequency list

No. 6,863 in Spanish

debi

"Debí" means "I should have" or "I ought to have" in English.

In a sentence

  • Debí terminar mi tarea antes de salir.

    I should have finished my homework before going out.

    Here, 'debí' is used to express a regret or missed obligation in the past.

  • Cuando era niño, debí aprender a nadar.

    When I was a child, I should have learned to swim.

    In this sentence, 'debí' implies an unfulfilled necessity or suggestion in the past tense.

  • Debí haber escuchado sus consejos.

    I should have listened to their advice.

    This usage of 'debí' conveys a past action that the speaker realizes would have been beneficial.

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