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How to Say ‘I had to take a detour.’ in Mexican Spanish

Me tuve que desviar.

meh TOO-veh keh dehs-VYAR

[meh TOO-veh keh dehs-VYAR]

💬 Usage Tip: The me can go before the verb, as here, or attach to the end: Tuve que desviarme means exactly the same.

Phrase Breakdown

Me tuve que

meh TOO-veh keh

I had to

'Tener que' means 'to have to'. 'Me' belongs to the verb 'desviarse'. Say: me-TU-ve-que.

Example

Me tuve que ir.

I had to leave.

Words in this phrase

[meh]

Used to refer to oneself.

Example

No me llevas contigo.

You do not take me with you.

tuve

[TOO-veh]

I had

Past of tener; 'tuve que' means I had to.

Example

Tuve que esperar.

I had to wait.

que

[keh]

to (in 'tener que')

Part of 'tener que', expressing obligation.

Example

Tengo que irme.

I have to go.

desviar.

dehs-VYAR

take a detour.

'Desviarse' means to detour. Stress the last syllable: des-VIAR, with a tapped 'r'.

Example

Hay que desviar por la obra.

We have to detour because of the construction.

Words in this phrase

desviar

[dehs-VYAR]

to detour

To change route or deviate.

Example

Hay que desviar por aquí.

We have to detour this way.

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