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ellos debieron

had to, must have

d e ˈb j e ɾ o n → deber
deb owe; must + ieron 3rd person plural past
auxiliary · third plural · past indicative Uncommon #15,864
had to, must have Third-person plural (they/you all) in the simple past; often expresses obligation or a strong conclusion about the past.
SP: Debieron salir temprano para llegar a tiempo.
EN: They had to leave early to arrive on time.
Conjugation of deber
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First debí debimos
Second debiste —
Third debió debieron

Pero hicieron algo que no debieron hacer, mataron gente.

But they did something they shouldn’t have done: they killed people.

— Bacurau (2019)

Debieron mover las escaleras según el elevador.

They should have moved the stairs according to the elevator.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

Debieron de haber pasado ya.

They must have already passed.

— Madre (Madeo) (2009)

Debieron haberte puesto una multa.

They should have given you a fine.

Debieron ponerlo los chicos.

The boys should have put it there.

— Perfectos desconocidos (2016)

Ustedes debieron haber seguido el consejo de Mary.

You should have followed Mary's advice.

Debieron haber pensado que era Supermán.

They must have thought he was Superman.

— Picnic (1955)

Debieron largarse de aquí hace mucho tiempo.

They should have left here a long time ago.

Es impresionante; te debieron haber dado el premio.

That's impressive; you should have won the award.

Tampoco sus padres debieron casarse.

Their parents shouldn't have gotten married either.

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Debieron conectar por fuera.

They must have connected outside.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

Ustedes no debieron escribir eso.

You shouldn't have written that.

Debieron haberte cambiado primero antes de salir.

They should have changed you first before leaving.

— Dos hermanas (2003)

Debieron oírnos.

They should have listened to us.

— El canto del lobo (2019)

Sonó la alarma y todos debieron evacuar.

The alarm sounded and everyone had to evacuate.

Debieron escucharlo en algún lado.

They must have heard it somewhere.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

Debieron ir a la recepción.

They should have gone to the reception.

— La escafandra y la mariposa (2007)

No debieron haber gastado tanto dinero en su pasatiempo.

They shouldn't have spent so much money on their hobby.

Dijiste que habían construido algo que no debieron construir.

You said they built something they shouldn't have built.

Gracias, chicos, pero no debieron hacer eso.

Thanks, guys, but you shouldn't have done that.

— It (Eso) (2017)

Ellos debieron haber tenido una mente noble.

They must have had a noble mind.

Debieron haberse enterado, papá.

They should have found out, Dad.

— Song Sung Blue - Canción para dos (2025)