debt
vs
owe

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"Debt" is a noun which is often translated as "la deuda", and "owe" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "deber". Learn more about the difference between "debt" and "owe" below.

debt(

deht

)

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

1. (finance)

a. la deuda

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

Our biggest debt is the mortgage on our house.Nuestra deuda más grande es la hipoteca de nuestra casa.

2. (moral obligation)

a. la deuda

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

I owe him a debt for saving my life.Tengo una deuda con él por haberme salvado la vida.

owe(

)

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).

transitive verb

1. (to be obligated to pay)

a. deber

He owes his landlord two months of rent.Le debe dos meses de renta al propietario.

b. adeudar (formal)

The company owes millions of dollars to the government.La empresa adeuda millones de dólares al gobierno.

2. (to be obligated to provide)