dette

debt

noun DET Less Common

Origin: From Latin 'debita', things owed.

Usage Note

Dette refers to any financial or moral obligation owed. Avoir des dettes means 'to be in debt', while rembourser une dette is 'to pay off a debt'. Dette publique is the standard term for national debt.

Examples

"Il a remboursé toutes ses dettes."

Natural Translation

He paid back all his debts.

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