lui doveva

had to, was supposed to, owed

→ dovere
dovev must; owe + a 3rd-person singular imperfect
auxiliary · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Common #2,262
had to, was supposed to Can express an obligation or something expected to happen.
IT: Doveva partire presto.
EN: He had to leave early.
Conjugation of dovere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First dovevo dovevamo
Second dovevi dovevate
Third doveva dovevano

Zé Pequeno per averle doveva pagare o usare la forza.

To get them, Zé Pequeno had to pay or use force.

— City of God (2002)

Doveva restare nascosto sul fondo dell'oceano per sempre?

Was he supposed to remain hidden on the ocean floor forever?

— Titanic (1997)

Hanno detto che doveva rispondere ad alcune domande.

They said he had to answer some questions.

— Io sono ancora qui (2024)

Doveva soltanto fargli qualche foto.

He just had to take some pictures of him.

— Blow Out (1981)

Tom non si doveva alzare così presto.

Tom didn’t have to get up so early.

Doveva aspettare fuori!

He should have waited outside!

— I visitatori (1993)

Non lo doveva aiutare.

He wasn't supposed to help him.

Doveva venire a prendermi.

He was supposed to come get me.

— L'agente segreto (2025)

Doveva chiamarla appena si fosse sistemato.

He was to call her as soon as he got settled.

— Tutto su mia madre (1999)

Tom doveva arrivare qui ieri.

Tom was supposed to arrive here yesterday.

Ho pensato che doveva avere il suo nome e la sua casa.

I thought he should have his own name and his own home.

— Tre colori - Film blu (1993)

Doveva dire così.

He had to say that.

— Fight Club (1999)

Nel New Hampshire, dove si doveva girare.

In New Hampshire, where it was supposed to be filmed.

— Hollywood, Vermont (2000)

Lo doveva dire?

Did he have to say it?

Tom doveva proteggerci.

Tom was supposed to protect us.

Qualcuno doveva pagare per il sangue sulla maglia dei diritti umani.

Someone had to pay for the blood on the human rights shirt.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

E forse me lo doveva dire.

And maybe he should have told me.

— Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

Sapeva che doveva andarsene.

He knew he had to go.

Chi mi avrebbe sostituito doveva saperlo, questo.

Whoever replaced me should have known this.

— Tropa de elite - Gli squadroni della morte (2007)

Il meglio doveva ancora venire.

The best was yet to come.

Matias era sicuro, doveva affrontare quegli spacciatori.

Matias was sure, he had to face those drug dealers.

— Tropa de elite - Gli squadroni della morte (2007)

Non ha realizzato che doveva aiutarlo.

He didn’t realize that he was supposed to help him.

Quindi doveva venire Pavlik, ma è arrivato questo tipo?

So Pavlik was supposed to come, but this guy came?

— Ирония судьбы, или С легким паром! (1976)

Mary disse che doveva aiutare Tom.

Mary said she had to help Tom.

Doveva indagare sui suoi colleghi perché era sparita quella roba.

He had to investigate his colleagues because that stuff was missing.

— Mercy - Sotto accusa (2026)

Lui doveva rimanere a letto.

He had to stay in bed.

Se vuoi dare un'occhiata, almeno un omicidio doveva accadere.

If you want to take a look, at least one murder had to happen.

— Decision to Leave (2022)

Doveva scappare molto prima.

He should have escaped much earlier.

— Lo specchio (1975)

Sapeva che si doveva sbrigare.

He knew he had to hurry.

Mary non sapeva che doveva aiutare Tom.

Mary didn't know that she had to help Tom.

Doveva succedere.

It was bound to happen.

— Vite vendute (1953)

Doveva averli, pensai.

He must have had them, I thought.

Doveva venire qui alle cinque.

He was supposed to come here at five.

— Lo specchio (1975)

Doveva condividere una camera da letto con i suoi fratelli o sorelle?

Did he have to share a bedroom with his brothers or sisters?

Mary doveva pensare per sé.

Mary had to think for herself.

Mary ha detto a Tom che doveva parlare con lui.

Mary told Tom she needed to talk to him.

Per prima cosa, lui doveva avere la polizza infortuni.

First of all, he had to have accident insurance.

— La fiamma del peccato (1944)

Mary disse a Tom che doveva parlare con lui.

Mary told Tom she needed to talk to him.

Qualcuno doveva avvisare.

Someone should have warned us.

— Il suono intorno (2012)

Doveva dirmelo!

He should have told me!

— I diabolici (1955)

A quel tempo non potevo, ma sentivo che doveva vedermi.

At that time I couldn't, but I felt that he had to see me.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Sapeva che doveva partire.

He knew he had to leave.

Era lei che doveva sposarsi?

Was she the one who was supposed to get married?

— Ritratto della giovane in fiamme (2019)

Katrina doveva aver lavorato sodo nei pochi giorni in cui ero stata via.

Katrina must have worked hard during the few days I was away.

E Mido doveva reagire all'uomo che avesse detto questo.

And Mido was supposed to react to the man who had said this.

— Old Boy (2003)

Prima o poi doveva vincere una medaglia internazionale.

Sooner or later, he was bound to win an international medal.

— Dangal (2016)

Il chirurgo ha detto che qualcuno doveva tenerla d’occhio, signora.

The surgeon said someone needed to keep an eye on her, ma’am.

Mary disse che doveva lavorare.

Mary said she had to work.

Doveva per forza conoscere il piano di Cane.

He had to know Cane's plan.

— Una pallottola spuntata (2025)

Da qualche parte, qualcuno doveva aver messo il libro per iscritto.

Somewhere, someone must have written the book down.

Che doveva dire?

What was he supposed to say?

— Parla con lei (2002)

Doveva sentire come parlava di lei.

You should have heard how he talked about her.

— The Big Sick - Il matrimonio si può evitare... l'amore no (2017)

Ho pensato che una di queste doveva avere la macchina del caffè all'interno.

I thought one of these was supposed to have the coffee machine inside.

— Together (2025)

Doveva vedere un professore della facoltà.

He had to see a professor from the faculty.

— Tesis (1996)

Tom doveva andarci da solo.

Tom had to go alone.

Non venne perché doveva prendere il treno con mio padre.

He didn't come because he had to catch the train with my father.

— La fiamma del peccato (1944)

Doveva certo esserci un motivo per quella decisione così improvvisa.

There must have been a reason for such a sudden decision.

Che cosa doveva dirmi?

What was he supposed to tell me?

— Una giornata particolare (1977)

Doveva dire anche questo.

He had to say this too.

— Fight Club (1999)

Mary aveva molte cose che doveva comprare.

Mary had many things she needed to buy.

Lei doveva condividere una camera da letto con i suoi fratelli o sorelle?

Did she have to share a bedroom with her brothers or sisters?

Il suo assassinio volete dire, la signora doveva avere un bambino vero?

You mean, her murder, the lady was supposed to have a baby, right?

— Rebecca - La prima moglie (1940)

Tom doveva lavare la sua automobile.

Tom had to wash his car.

Wu Dan doveva sbarazzarsi di te tanto tempo fa.

Wu Dan should have gotten rid of you a long time ago.

— La tigre e il dragone (2000)

Qualcuno doveva dirlo a sua moglie.

Someone had to tell his wife.

Doveva durare la metà.

It was supposed to last half as long.

— F1 - Il film (2025)

La tua scatola della felicità doveva avere un buco.

Your happiness box was supposed to have a hole.

— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)

E Dharamdas doveva trascinarlo via per l'orecchio!

And Dharamdas had to drag him away by the ear!

— देवदास (2002)

L'uomo che doveva incontrarti qui.

The man who was supposed to meet you here.

— L'organo genocida (2017)

Lei doveva passare per primo.

She had to go first.

— Stalker (1979)

Hai detto che la mia voce doveva incidere le mura della prigione.

You said my voice had to pierce the prison walls.

— Un semplice incidente (2025)

Aveva perso il treno e doveva aspettare quello delle cinque.

He had missed the train and had to wait for the five o'clock one.

Matias doveva apprendere che non si deve perdonare.

Matias had to learn that one must not forgive.

— Tropa de elite - Gli squadroni della morte (2007)

Sì, la ragazza doveva rientrare e andavo veloce.

Yes, the girl had to go back and I was going fast.

— Hollywood, Vermont (2000)

Non si doveva toccare Santiago.

Santiago was not to be touched.

— Codice d'onore (1992)

Tom non mi doveva ringraziare.

Tom didn't need to thank me.

Chiunque le abbia costruite doveva conoscere molto bene il tipo di legno.

Whoever built them must have known the type of wood very well.

— Porco Rosso (1992)

E non si doveva lottare per il cibo in una città a pezzi.

And you didn't have to fight for food in a city in pieces.

— Atlantis - L'impero perduto (2001)

Nina doveva portarmi gli inviti ma non l'ho vista.

Nina was supposed to bring me the invitations, but I didn’t see her.

— Mosca non crede alle lacrime (1980)

Ogni cambiale doveva arrivare a scadenza.

Every promissory note had to reach maturity.

Doveva finire così.

It had to end this way.

— Effetto notte (1973)

Lui doveva lasciare la città, quindi si trasferì a Berlino.

He had to leave the city, so he moved to Berlin.

Non aveva più soldi e doveva trovare un lavoro in fretta.

He had no money left and had to find a job quickly.

Dissi che avevo lasciato l'agenda in ufficio e doveva aiutarmi lui.

I said that I had left the planner at the office and that he had to help me.

— La fiamma del peccato (1944)

Con Johnny doveva parlarci faccia a faccia.

He had to talk to Johnny face to face.

— Angeli perduti (1995)

Doveva ripassare lunedì.

He was supposed to come back on Monday.

— Il favoloso mondo di Amélie (2001)

Guarda che mi doveva capitare!

Just my luck!

— The Monster (1994)

Doveva spegnere le telecamere, ma si è pentito e ne ha lasciata una accesa.

He was supposed to turn off the cameras, but he regretted it and left one on.

— La pelle che abito (2011)

Tom chiese a Mary di restare, però lei doveva tornare al lavoro.

Tom asked Mary to stay, but she had to go back to work.

Tom non si doveva nascondere.

Tom wasn't supposed to hide.

Doveva aver camminato molto la sera prima.

He must have walked a lot the night before.

— Hong Kong Express (1994)

Ci dicono che doveva andarci con te.

They tell us that he was supposed to go there with you.

— Mystic River (2003)

Lei ha riferito di aver detto a Kendrick che non si doveva toccare Santiago.

She reported having told Kendrick that Santiago was not to be touched.

— Codice d'onore (1992)

Due settimane fa, doveva ritirarsi, ma ti ha preso come suo ultimo caso.

Two weeks ago, he was supposed to retire, but he took you on as his last case.

— Contrattempo (2017)

Doveva venire qualcuno ad aiutare ma è in ritardo.

Someone was supposed to come and help but he's late.

— Burning - L'amore brucia (2018)

Doveva concentrarsi sui suoi studi.

He had to concentrate on his studies.

Si era dimenticata che doveva coprirmi.

She had forgotten that she was supposed to cover for me.

— Mangiare bere uomo donna (1994)

Mary ha detto a Tom che doveva parlare con John.

Mary told Tom she needed to talk to John.

Tom doveva comprare qualcosa da mangiare.

Tom had to buy something to eat.

Mary disse a Tom che doveva parlare con John.

Mary told Tom she needed to talk to John.

Doveva dirlo?

Did he have to say it?

Sami doveva rallentare.

Sami had to slow down.

Suo marito era stato ammazzato e lei doveva crescere le figlie.

Her husband had been murdered and she had to raise her daughters.

— City of God (2002)

Beh io sapevo che doveva entrare in ospedale.

Well I knew he had to go into the hospital.

— Le invasioni barbariche (2003)

Tom doveva tornare a casa.

Tom had to go home.

Qualcuno doveva saperlo, è vergognoso, cazzo!

Someone should have known, it's fucking shameful!

— Control (2007)

Quello che doveva succedere è successo.

What was supposed to happen has happened.

— Arca Russa (2002)

Abbiamo mangiato la pizza all'Hi-Fi e poi lei doveva vedere Eve e Diane.

We ate pizza at Hi-Fi, and then she had to see Eve and Diane.

— Mystic River (2003)

Lo so, doveva sembrare banale.

I know, it must have seemed trivial.

— Bugonia (2025)

Perché doveva capitare questo a me?

Why did this have to happen to me?

— Memorie di un assassino (2003)

L'acrobata doveva portarmi allo studio, invece ha preso Liliane.

The acrobat was supposed to take me to the studio, but instead he picked up Liliane.

— Effetto notte (1973)

Quella pietra doveva stare sotto chiave.

That stone was supposed to be under lock and key.

— Il castello nel cielo (1986)

Dopo la banja, Pavlik doveva partire per Leningrado.

After the banya, Pavlik was supposed to leave for Leningrad.

— Ирония судьбы, или С легким паром! (1976)

Doveva pensarci due volte prima di aggredire una ragazza di Delhi.

He should have thought twice before assaulting a girl from Delhi.

— Queen (2014)

Doveva sempre fare di testa sua.

He always had to do his own thing.

— Viaggio a Tokyo (1953)

Madge doveva diventare Regina l'anno scorso.

Madge was supposed to become Queen last year.

— Picnic (1955)

Doveva aiutarmi a uccidere Morte Bianca a Kyoto.

He was supposed to help me kill White Death in Kyoto.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Tom non ci doveva aiutare.

Tom wasn't supposed to help us.

Doveva toccare a me, era stata un'idea mia.

I should have been the one to do it; it was my idea.

— Il paziente inglese (1996)

Tom doveva aiutarmi.

Tom had to help me.

Doveva baciarla.

He had to kiss her.

— Love Actually - L'amore davvero (2003)

Doveva venirmi a prendere dopo una lezione, ma non venne.

He was supposed to pick me up after class, but he didn't come.

— La fiamma del peccato (1944)

Ero il giovane gentiluomo che doveva fare colazione con lui stamattina.

I was the young gentleman who was supposed to have breakfast with him this morning.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Doveva darmi i soldi per il volo.

He was supposed to give me the money for the flight.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Lei doveva chiamare la Buoncostume, non la Squadra Omicidi.

She should have called Vice, not Homicide.

— Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (1970)

Qualcuno doveva dirgli che le sue tecniche sono deboli.

Someone had to tell him that his techniques are weak.

— Dangal (2016)

Doveva dirmi una cosa importante.

He was supposed to tell me something important.

— Lagaan: C'era una volta in India (2001)

E il peggio doveva ancora venire.

And the worst was yet to come.

— Ratatouille (2007)

Mary realizzò che doveva aiutare Tom.

Mary realized she had to help Tom.

Lei doveva osservare il bebè.

She had to observe the baby.

Sapeva che doveva scusarsi.

He knew he had to apologize.

Non ha fatto in tempo, doveva partire subito.

He didn't have time, he had to leave immediately.

— L'infanzia di Ivan (1962)

Piangeva, diceva che si doveva sposare.

She was crying, saying she had to get married.

— La vita va così (2025)

Non si doveva pagare per usare una bacheca.

You weren’t supposed to have to pay to use a bulletin board.

Non l'ha detto, doveva dirlo prima.

He didn't say it; he should have said it earlier.

— Mommy (2014)

La mamma doveva indossare il sari, ma non si è cambiata.

The mother was supposed to wear the sari, but she didn't change.

— Queen (2014)

verb · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Uncommon #17,348
owed
IT: Mi doveva dieci euro.
EN: He owed me ten euros.
had to, was supposed to
IT: Doveva partire alle otto.
EN: She had to leave at eight.
Conjugation of dovere
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Second dovevi —
Third doveva —

Ma ha fatto tutto quello che doveva.

But he did everything he was supposed to.

Bevendo, ha detto quello che non doveva!

While drinking, he said something he shouldn't have!

— La sfida del samurai (1961)

Mary mi ha detto che doveva del denaro a Tom.

Mary told me she owed Tom some money.

«Mi doveva dei soldi!»

He owed me money!

Quanto ti doveva Astérix?

How much did Astérix owe you?

— L'odio (1995)

Lui sapeva quanto doveva a Harbor House.

He knew how much he owed Harbor House.

Giusto questa mattina Tom ha restituito a Mary i soldi che le doveva.

Just this morning Tom paid Mary back the money he owed her.

Chris doveva sette milioni di standard.

Chris owed seven million standards.

Perché, doveva?

Why, did he have to?

— Good Bye, Lenin! (2003)

Doveva?

Where you go?

— Rushmore (1998)

«Quando era vivo, ti doveva dei soldi », lo corresse Brunel.

“When he was alive, he owed you money,” Brunel corrected him.

Mary mi disse che doveva dei soldi a Tom.

Mary told me she owed Tom some money.

Le doveva qualcosa?

Did he owe her anything?

— Andhadhun (2018)

Pete mi doveva un favore.

Pete owed me a favor.

— I Tenenbaum (2001)

Lui le doveva molto.

He owed her a lot.

Pare che Alba abbia fatto più di quanto doveva.

It seems Alba did more than she should have.

— The Garden of Sinners Chapter 5: Paradox Paradigm (2008)

«Gli doveva così tanto?» chiese Jill.

“Did he owe him that much?” Jill asked.

Se Lady Ghost ha fatto quello che doveva, forse ne usciremo tutti vivi.

If Lady Ghost did what she had to do, maybe we'll all make it out of this alive.

— Thunderbolts* (2025)