German Phrase
Entspannst du dich, bevor du schlafen gehst?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the listener relaxes before going to sleep. It is a friendly, informal way to inquire about someone’s bedtime routine or sleep‑hygiene habits.
When to use
Use this question in casual conversation with friends, family, or classmates when you’re talking about evening habits, sleep health, or planning a relaxing night‑time routine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Entspannstdudich,bevorduschlafengehst?
Verb + Reflexive Pronoun
‘Entspannst du dich’ uses the reflexive verb ‘entspannen’ with the reflexive pronoun ‘dich’ and the verb is conjugated to second‑person singular (Entspannst).
Inversion for Yes/No Question
In German yes/no questions the finite verb moves to the first position, so ‘Entspannst du …’ instead of ‘Du entspannst …’.
Subordinating Conjunction ‘bevor’
‘bevor’ introduces a subordinate clause; the verb of that clause goes to the end, giving ‘du schlafen gehst’.
Verb‑Verb Construction
‘schlafen gehen’ is a verb‑verb construction where ‘schlafen’ stays in infinitive and ‘gehen’ is conjugated (gehst).
Punctuation
A comma separates the main clause from the subordinate clause introduced by ‘bevor’.
🗨In Conversation
Entspannst du dich, bevor du schlafen gehst?
Do you relax before you go to sleep?
Ja, ich lese meistens ein paar Seiten und mache leichte Dehnübungen.
Yes, I usually read a few pages and do some light stretching.
✕Common Mistakes
Entspannst du dich, bevor du schlafen geht?
The verb ‘gehen’ must be conjugated to match ‘du’; the correct form is ‘gehst’.
Entspannst du dich, bevor du schlafen gehen?
In the subordinate clause the finite verb goes to the end, so you need ‘du schlafen gehst’, not ‘du schlafen gehen’.
Du entspannst dich, bevor du schlafen gehst?
In a yes/no question the verb precedes the subject, so ‘Entspannst du dich …’ is required.
↔Alternatives
Entspannst du dich vor dem Schlafengehen?
Do you relax before bedtime?
Machst du etwas zum Entspannen, bevor du ins Bett gehst?
Do you do something to relax before you go to bed?
Wie entspannst du dich, bevor du schlafen gehst?
How do you relax before you go to sleep?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries a calm bedtime routine is considered important for good sleep. Many people listen to classical music, read a book, or do a short meditation before ‘ins Bett gehen’. Remember that ‘du’ is informal; with strangers or older people you would use the formal ‘Sie’: ‘Entspannen Sie sich, bevor Sie schlafen gehen?’