doveva fare

had to do

→ dovere
phrase Rare #25,557
had to do Can also mean “was supposed to do,” depending on context.
IT: Doveva fare una telefonata importante.
EN: He had to make an important phone call.

Il pilota non doveva fare altro che andare il più veloce possibile.

The pilot had nothing to do but go as fast as possible.

— Senna (2010)

E ha fatto cose che non doveva fare.

And he did things he shouldn't have done.

— Send Help (2026)

Ha detto che voleva andare a dormire presto perché doveva fare molta strada.

He said he wanted to go to sleep early because he had a long way to go.

— Psyco (1960)

Ogni uomo che la guardava, si doveva fare, per forza, una sega.

Every man who looked at her had to jerk off.

— Le iene (1992)

Mary non ha fatto quello che doveva fare.

Mary didn’t do what she was supposed to do.

Poteva fare quello che doveva fare.

He could do what he had to do.

Tom ha detto che non sapeva cosa doveva fare.

Tom said he didn't know what he was supposed to do.

Sapeva che doveva fare qualcosa.

He knew he had to do something.

Il sequestro doveva fare da esca.

The kidnapping was meant to be a bait.

— The Rip - Soldi sporchi (2026)

Ti doveva fare un pompino?

Were they supposed to give you a blowjob?

— Le iene (1992)

Doveva fare loro lezione per ripagare i debiti di suo padre.

He had to teach them to repay his father’s debts.

— Hamnet - Nel nome del figlio (2025)