Which to use
“debías” and “decían” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #44,095
- “debías” frequency rank
- #3,909
- “decían” frequency rank
- 48004
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | debías | decían |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Segunda persona del singular (tú, vos) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de deber. | Tercera persona del plural (ellos, ellas; ustedes, 2.ª persona) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de decir. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set debías and decían apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. debías ([d̪eˈβ̞ias]) and decían ([d̪eˈsiãn]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 48004, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
debías is recorded at frequency rank #44,095, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈβ̞ias]. decían is at rank #3,909, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsiãn].
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 48004, this pair ranks #116,869 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of debías vs decían
Shared letters: adeí. Private to "debías": bs. Private to "decían": cn.
"debías" · 6 letters · shape CVCVVC · "decían" · 6 letters · shape CVCVVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "debías" and "decían" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "debías" or "decían"?
Remembering debías vs decían
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 “debías” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable