hai dovuto

had to

→ avere
phrase Rare #24,753
had to Used with an infinitive to say that something was necessary or required in the past. It can also mean 'did you have to' in questions.
IT: Hai dovuto studiare molto per l'esame?
EN: Did you have to study a lot for the exam?

Hai dovuto accogliere due orfani?

Did you have to take in two orphans?

— La tomba delle lucciole (1988)

Cos'hai dovuto fare?

What did you have to do?

Perché hai dovuto picchiarlo?

Why did you have to hit him?

— Dangal (2016)

Poverino, hai dovuto aspettare tanto.

You poor thing, you had to wait so long.

— Vi presento Toni Erdmann (2016)

Perché diavolo hai dovuto rompere il loro specchietto?!

Why the hell did you have to break their side mirror?!

— Madre (2009)

Per vivere lo hai dovuto abbandonare.

You had to leave him behind to survive.

— Young Detective Dee - Il risveglio del drago marino (2013)

E quanti uomini hai dovuto dimenticare?

And how many men have you had to forget?

— Donne sull'orlo di una crisi di nervi (1988)

Non hai dovuto neanche pensarci.

You didn't even have to think about it.

— I Tenenbaum (2001)

Perché non hai dovuto farlo?

Why didn't you have to do it?

Hai dovuto comprare questi vestiti?

Did you have to buy these clothes?

— The World (2004)

Perchè hai dovuto peggiorare le cose, bastardo?!

Why did you have to make things worse, you bastard?!

— I Saw the Devil (2010)