Which to use
“debí” and “decí” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #14,811
- “debí” frequency rank
- #42,935
- “decí” frequency rank
- 57746
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | debí | decí |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Primera persona del singular (yo) del pretérito perfecto simple de indicativo de deber. | Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de decir. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set debí and decí apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. debí ([d̪eˈβ̞i]) and decí ([d̪eˈsi]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by a single letter - b in “debí” becomes c in “decí”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 57746, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
debí is recorded at frequency rank #14,811, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈβ̞i]. decí is at rank #42,935, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsi].
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 57746, this pair ranks #69,272 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of debí vs decí
Shared letters: deí. Private to "debí": b. Private to "decí": c.
"debí" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "decí" · 4 letters · shape CVCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "debí" and "decí" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "debí" or "decí"?
Remembering debí vs decí
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 “debí” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable