Published October 3, 2025 • Updated April 3, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
📘 Devoir meaning
Devoir is one of the most common French verbs and means “must,” “to have to,” or “to owe.” It is used to express obligation, necessity, probability, and financial debt in everyday situations. You’ll often see it in patterns like devoir + infinitive (to have to do something) and in expressions of likelihood. Examples: Je dois partir (I must leave), tu dois étudier (you have to study), il doit être fatigué (he must be tired), and je vous dois dix euros (I owe you ten euros). 🔊 Listen to examples.
🎧 Devoir pronunciation
The pronunciation of devoir is /də.vwaʁ/, which sounds like duh-vwar.
📝 Devoir examples
1. Obligation / necessity
Je dois partir à huit heures demain.
I have to leave at eight o’clock tomorrow.
2. Expectation / probability
L’avion doit arriver dans deux heures.
The plane should arrive in two hours.
3. Rules / expectations
Les enfants doivent être à l’école à 8h30.
The children have to be at school at 8:30.
4. Owing something (money, help, etc.)
Tu me dois 80 euros.
You owe me 80 euros.
5. Should — conditional of devoir
Tu devrais apprendre tous les verbes irréguliers.
You should learn all the irregular verbs.
6. Should have — past conditional
Tu aurais dû me téléphoner avant !
You should have called me earlier!
7. Les devoirs = homework
Elle a déjà fini tous ses devoirs.
She already finished all her homework.
👉 These lessons explain j’aurais dû (I should have) and je devrais (I should) in detail.
💡 Devoir vs il faut – Are they synonyms?
Over the years, many students have asked me whether devoir and il faut (it’s necessary, one must) are synonyms. The short answer: yes — you can usually use them interchangeably to express obligation.
The key difference lies in structure and tone:
Devoir is conjugated and feels more direct or personal (je dois, elle doit, nous devons, etc.)
Il faut is impersonal, stays the same for all subjects, and can sound slightly more formal or neutral.
✅ Je dois manger. I must / I have to eat.
✅ Il faut que je mange. I must / I have to eat.
👉 This lesson explains il faut in detail.
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- un devoir — duty, obligation, homework assignment
- les devoirs — homework
- devoir son salut à — owe your salvation to
- devoir une fière chandelle à — be deeply indebted
- il faut — one must / it’s necessary to
- avoir besoin de — to need to
📚 Related lessons
👉 Devoir conjugation chart »
👉 J’aurais dû (I should have) »
👉 Je devrais (I should) »
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