devoir

/də.vwaʁ/

verbInf3rd

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 dois y aller maintenant, sinon je vais être en retard.

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

Synonyms:falloir (impersonal: il faut), être obligé de, être censé

verbInf3rd

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 (envers)

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 (scolaire), exercice

Notes

GENERAL INFO

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

je dois

tu dois

il / elle / on doit

nous devons

vous devez

ils / elles doivent

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

*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'.