Be French LogoBe French
Back to D Words

devoir

/dəvwaʁ/
1.
verbINFG3

must

to have to (expressing obligation or necessity)

to be supposed to / should / ought to (advisory or expected action)

to be likely / must be (epistemic — expressing probability)

Je vais devoir y aller maintenant, sinon je vais être en retard.

I'll have to go now, otherwise I'm going to be late.

Synonyms:falloir, être obligé de, être censé
2.
verbINFG3

to owe (money, a favour, an explanation)

Tu me dois encore dix euros pour le ciné.

You still owe me ten euros for the movies.

Synonyms:être redevable, avoir une dette
3.
nounmasculineSing

duty

moral duty

homework (school assignment) — commonly used in the plural 'devoirs'

Je n'ai pas fini mon devoir pour demain.

I haven't finished my homework for tomorrow.

Synonyms:obligation, travail, exercice

Notes

GENERAL INFO

"Devoir" means "must", "to have to", or "to owe".

CONJUGATION - 3rd group

  • je dois
  • tu dois
  • il / elle / on doit
  • nous devons
  • vous devez
  • ils / elles doivent

    • USAGE

    Used for obligation (*Je dois partir*) or debt (*Il me doit 50€*).

    TRAPS

  • *J'ai dû* (passé composé) implies something *had to happen*,
  • *Je devais* (imparfait) often indicates an unfulfilled obligation ('was supposed to').
  • *Je devrais* (confitionnel) translates to 'I should'.