deberse

to be due to

deberse(deh-behr-seh)

pronominal verb

1. (to be the result of; used with "a")

a. to be due to

Esta situación se debe a la falta de información.

This situation is due to a lack of information.

deber

transitive verb

2. (to reciprocate)

a. to owe

El dinero que me debe cubriría mis facturas.

The money he owes me would cover my bills.

auxiliary verb

3. (used to express obligation)

a. should

Los culpables de delitos viales deben ser sancionados.

Traffic offenders should be punished.

b. have to

Ya sabes que debes ponerte la corbata para ir al colegio.

You know you have to wear your tie to go to school.

c. must

Debo ser responsable.

I must be responsible.

d. ought to

Es tu hermano, debes ayudarlo.

He's your brother. You ought to help him.

4. (used to express possibility)

a. must

¿Cuántos años tiene tu profesora de francés? - Debe tener unos cuarenta.

How old is your French teacher? - She must be around forty.

5. (used to make a suggestion)

a. should

No deberías fumar tanto. Vas a acabar con una tos crónica.

You shouldn't smoke so much. You'll end up having a chronic cough.

b. ought to

Deberías ser más amable con los vecinos.

You ought to be more polite to our neighbors.

masculine noun

6. (responsibility)

a. duty

Es mi deber proteger mi país.

It's my duty to protect my country.

b. obligation

Es tu deber como madre cuidar a tus hijos.

It's your obligation as a mother to take care of your children.

los deberes

plural noun

7. (education)

a. homework

Tengo un montón de deberes que hacer este fin de semana.

I have a ton of homework to do this weekend.