German Phrase
Bietest du Sparkonten an?
Meaning
This question asks whether the person or institution you’re speaking to provides savings accounts. It’s a direct, informal way to inquire about a banking product.
When to use
Use it when you’re at a bank, a credit‑union, or speaking with a financial advisor and want to know if they have savings‑account options. In a formal setting replace ‘du’ with ‘Sie’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
BietestduSparkontenan
Separable verb: anbieten
‘anbieten’ splits in a question: the prefix ‘an’ moves to the end of the clause while the conjugated verb ‘bietest’ stays in second position.
Verb conjugation (du‑form)
‘bieten’ → ‘du bietest’; note the ‘‑st’ ending for the second‑person singular present tense.
Plural noun: Sparkonten
‘Sparkonto’ (savings account) becomes ‘Sparkonten’ in the plural; the article ‘die’ is omitted in questions.
Word order in yes/no questions
The finite verb (or verb part) comes first, followed by the subject, then the object, and finally the separable prefix.
🗨In Conversation
Bietest du Sparkonten an?
Do you offer savings accounts?
Ja, wir haben verschiedene Sparkonten mit unterschiedlichen Zinsen.
Yes, we have several savings accounts with different interest rates.
✕Common Mistakes
Bieten du Sparkonten an?
The verb must be conjugated before the subject; ‘bieten du’ is ungrammatical.
Bietest du Sparkonto an?
When asking about multiple accounts, use the plural ‘Sparkonten’. ‘Sparkonto’ would refer to a single account.
Anbieten du Sparkonten?
In a yes/no question the separable prefix moves to the end, not before the subject.
Du bietest Sparkonten an?
In a question the finite verb must be first; ‘du bietest … ?’ is a statement, not a question.
↔Alternatives
Geben Sie Sparkonten?
Do you give (offer) savings accounts?
Haben Sie Sparkonten?
Do you have savings accounts?
Bieten Sie Sparkonten an?
Do you offer savings accounts? (formal)
Cultural Tip
In German business contexts the formal ‘Sie’ is preferred, especially when you’re speaking to a bank employee you don’t know personally. Switching to the informal ‘du’ signals familiarity or a more relaxed environment, such as a small community bank where staff invite customers to use ‘du’. Also, German banks often differentiate between “Tagesgeldkonto” (daily‑interest account) and “Festgeldkonto” (fixed‑term account), so you might want to specify the type of savings account you’re interested in.