Do You Know When to Use Tener que, Deber, or Hay que in Spanish?

Learning Spanish as an adult can be both exciting and overwhelming. One common source of confusion? Knowing whether to use tener que, deber, or hay que when talking about obligations, advice, or general rules. They all seem to mean must, should, or have to—but they’re not interchangeable.

In this complete guide to tener que vs deber vs hay que in Spanish, we’ll break them down step by step so you always know which one to use. Ready? ¡Vamos!

Tener que — Personal Obligation (“Have To”)

What It Means

Tener que means to have to do something. It’s used when the subject (yo, tú, ella, etc.) is clearly responsible for the obligation.

Conjugation of “Tener que” (Present, Preterite, Imperfect, Future)

Pronoun	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future
Yo	tengo que	tuve que	tenía que	tendré que
Tú	tienes que	tuviste que	tenías que	tendrás que
Él/Ella	tiene que	tuvo que	tenía que	tendrá que
Nosotros	tenemos que	tuvimos que	teníamos que	tendremos que
Ustedes	tienen que	tuvieron que	tenían que	tendrán que

Examples from Real Life

• Tengo que trabajar mañana. (I have to work tomorrow.)
• Tienes que estudiar más para el examen. (You have to study more for the exam.)
• Tenemos que hacer las maletas. (We have to pack.)
• Tendrán que llegar temprano. (They will have to arrive early.)

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Tengo estudiar ✔ Tengo que estudiar
  • Don’t forget the “que” after the conjugated verb “tener.”

Pronunciation Tip

Say “tener que” as if it were one unit: teh-NER-keh (link the “r” and “q” sounds).

Challenge!

Say a sentence about something you have to do this week. Use “tener que” in the present tense.

Deber — Moral Obligation or Strong Suggestion (“Should / Must”)

What It Means

Deber can mean should or must, depending on the context. It often implies a moral or recommended action rather than a strict obligation.

Conjugation of “Deber” (Present, Preterite, Imperfect, Future)

Pronoun	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future
Yo	debo	debí	debía	deberé
Tú	debes	debiste	debías	deberás
Él/Ella	debe	debió	debía	deberá
Nosotros	debemos	debimos	debíamos	deberemos
Ustedes	deben	debieron	debían	deberán

Examples from Real Life

• Debes hacer más ejercicio. (You should exercise more.)
• Deberíamos reciclar. (We should recycle.)
• Debo llamar a mi mamá. (I must call my mom.)
• Debieron estudiar antes. (They should have studied earlier.)

Cultural Insight

In many Latin American countries, using “debería” or “deberíamos” sounds softer and more polite than the direct “debes” or “debemos.”

• Polite: Deberías hablar con ella. (You should talk to her.)
• Direct: Debes hablar con ella. (You must talk to her.)

Pronunciation Tip

Emphasize the first syllable: DEH-ber. Keep it clean and firm for emphasis.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing “deber” with “tener que.”
  • Use “deber” when something is recommended or morally expected, not mandatory.

Challenge!

Translate this: “You should drink more water.” → Debes beber más agua.

Hay que — General Obligation (“One Must”)

What It Means

Hay que expresses a general or impersonal obligation. It translates to “one must” or “it is necessary to”, and doesn’t refer to any specific person.

Quick Grammar Note

• “Hay que” is a fixed expression. You don’t conjugate it!
• Just follow it with an infinitive verb.

Examples from Real Life

• Hay que usar mascarilla. (You have to wear a mask.)
• Hay que tener paciencia. (One must be patient.)
• Hay que cuidar el planeta. (We must take care of the planet.)
• Hay que apagar las luces. (Lights must be turned off.)

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Hayan que reciclar ✔ Hay que reciclar
  • Remember: Never conjugate “hay que.”

Cultural Insight

In formal writing or public signage in Spanish-speaking countries, you’ll often see “hay que” used instead of “tener que” for rules or public guidelines.

Pronunciation Tip

Say it smoothly: eye-keh (like “eye” + “keh”). It’s quick and rhythmic.

Challenge!

Create a sentence using “hay que” about a general rule (like at school, at work, or in public spaces).

Tener que vs Deber vs Hay que in Spanish: Quick Comparison

Expression	English Meaning	Subject Needed?	Strength of Obligation
Tener que	Have to	✅ Yes	Strong (personal obligation)
Deber	Should / Must	✅ Yes	Medium (suggestion/moral)
Hay que	One must / It is necessary to	❌ No	Medium/Strong (general)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of tener que, deber, or hay que:

1. Mañana _________ levantarnos temprano.
2. Para viajar, _________ tener pasaporte.
3. Los niños _________ hacer la tarea antes de jugar.
4. _________ respetar las reglas del salón.
5. Si estás enfermo, _________ ir al médico.

2. Translation

Translate the following into Spanish:

1. You must be on time.
2. We should visit our grandparents more often.
3. People have to drive carefully.
4. I have to clean my house today.
5. One must listen to the teacher.

3. Create Your Own Sentences

• Write one sentence using tener que about your week.
• Write one sentence using deber to give advice.
• Write one sentence using hay que about a school or work rule.

Journaling & Speaking Practice

Journaling Prompts

• What are three things you have to do this week?
• Write about something you should start doing for your health.
• Describe a general rule in your job or school using hay que.

Speaking Practice

• Record yourself reading the examples out loud.
• Try creating and saying 3 original sentences using all three expressions.
• Practice with a partner: Give each other advice using deber, then talk about your plans with tener que.

Keep Learning with Us!

Now you know the difference between tener que, deber, and hay que in Spanish! Mastering these expressions will make your Spanish sound much more natural and confident, you can continue learning other topics such as How to Talk About Plans in Spanish: Querer, Pensar, and Ir a Explained.

Ready for more? Sign up for our newsletter or explore our YouTube channel.

Keep practicing, keep speaking, and keep growing. ¡Tú puedes!

Loved by Students Around the World

Our classes are interactive, effective, and fun. Check out the reviews and sign up today!

Do you want to see more reviews? Visit us on Google or Facebook to see what our students say.