How to express "should" in Spanish?

Question

How to say: "I should go to school today."

Answer 1

I would say:

debería ir a escuela hoy.

(Yo) debería ir a la escuela hoy - to avoid confusion. - ian-hill, Jan 31, 2013

yes, depending on the broader context. - gsdfsggs, Feb 1, 2013

Answer 2

I totally agree with gsdfssgs. Typically we use the conditional form of the verb "deber" to express "should/ought to" in Spanish. In the present tense, "deber" translates more as "must"; more like an obligation.

I will try to remember that. - kimmy5899, Feb 1, 2013

Answer 3

Have you tried just using the translator? This is pretty basic. The world for should is deber, you would conjugate it in first person, and then follow it with the infinitive, in this case, to go. Therefore, the answer is, Yo debo ir a la escuela hoy.

This translates as "I must go to school today". - pescador1, Jan 31, 2013

Yes, that won't work, too strong. - rogspax, Jan 31, 2013

Answer 4

As much as I agree with gfgfgfgs that debería sounds better coming from a student, but how would a native speaker actually say should in everyday conversation.

I.e Non- native- Debería tocar yo el piano?

Maybe a native would say- Debo tocar yo el piano? And maybe they still mean the same thing. I think both argue menos have a valid point

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Mar 30, 2017

El estudiante, please read my post :) - FELIZ77, Mar 30, 2017

Answer 5

Debes ir a la escuela..

Owing to amisunderstanding, I thought you sought advice;

If you already know what's best for you: Debo ir..

isunderstanding, I thought he wanted advice.. sorry. - annierats, Jan 31, 2013

Still, always good advice (unless the person is really upset and has a bunch of guns) - rogspax, Jan 31, 2013

Answer 6

To Cádiz, el estudiante and anyone else reading this updated answer: (response)

Welcome to our Spanishdict community forum

Debería ir a la escuela = I should go to school

Debería ir al colegio = I should go to school. (High school)

If you are referring to somebody else you do not know it is better to use debería to show more respect. Debe is too strong.

If, as an adult, you are talking to a child/young person and want to say you should, you would say: deberías unless you wanted to indicate that they have to, in which case you could either use debes ir a la escuela, or tienes que ir a la escuela.

Debo ir a la escuela = I have to go to school!

Tengo que ir a la escuela = I must / have to go to school!

I hope this clarifies things for you!

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

I do not think that cadiz is waiting for your answer mate. - ray76, Mar 31, 2017

I appreciate this answer!!! Thank you! - Renée8702, Jun 7, 2017