German Phrase
Bereust du irgendwas?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Do you regret anything?’ It asks the listener whether there is something in the past they wish had turned out differently. The tone can be casual or reflective, depending on context.
When to use
Use this question when you want to explore someone's feelings about past decisions, such as after a big life change, a heated argument, or when reminiscing about a shared experience.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bereustduirgendwas?
Verb: bereuen
‘bereuen’ means ‘to regret’. In the present tense, the 2nd‑person singular form is ‘bereust’ (du bereust).
Subject pronoun ‘du’
German often places the subject pronoun before the verb in questions, unlike English where it follows the auxiliary.
Indefinite pronoun ‘irgendwas’
‘irgendwas’ (colloquial) = ‘something, anything’. It can be replaced by the more formal ‘etwas’.
Question word order
In yes/no questions, the verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject and then the rest of the sentence.
🗨In Conversation
Bereust du irgendwas?
Do you regret anything?
Ja, ich bereue, dass ich das Studium abgebrochen habe.
Yes, I regret dropping out of university.
✕Common Mistakes
Bereust du irgendwas
Missing the question mark makes it look like a statement; always end with ‘?’ for a yes/no question.
Bereust du irgendwases?
‘irgendwases’ is not a word; the correct indefinite pronoun is ‘irgendwas’ (colloquial) or ‘etwas’ (formal).
Du bereust irgendwas?
Using ‘du’ after the verb is correct, but beginners sometimes invert it to ‘du bereust irgendwas?’, which is acceptable in spoken German but less standard for written questions.
↔Alternatives
Bereust du etwas?
Do you regret something?
Gibt es etwas, das du bereust?
Is there something you regret?
Hast du etwas bereut?
Did you regret something?
Cultural Tip
In German conversation, asking about regrets can be seen as quite personal. It’s best to use this question with friends or in a setting where deeper reflection is appropriate. In formal contexts, you might opt for the more neutral ‘Gibt es etwas, das Sie bereuen?’ using the formal ‘Sie’. Also, ‘irgendwas’ is colloquial; native speakers often switch to ‘etwas’ in polite speech.