Which to use
“debes” and “debí” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #1,504
- “debes” frequency rank
- #14,811
- “debí” frequency rank
- 16315
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | debes | debí |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de indicativo de deber. | Primera persona del singular (yo) del pretérito perfecto simple de indicativo de deber. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set debes and debí apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
debes and debí form a confusable pair in the Spanish index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 16315, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
debes is recorded at frequency rank #1,504, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈd̪eβ̞es]. debí is at rank #14,811, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈβ̞i].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 16315, this pair ranks #276,685 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "debes" and "debí" be used interchangeably?
Remembering debes vs debí
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “debes” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable