German Phrase
Du hast das Recht, dein Geld zurückzubekommen.
Meaning
This sentence means ‘You have the right to get your money back.’ It is often used in consumer‑rights contexts, indicating a legal or contractual entitlement to a refund.
When to use
Use it when you want to remind someone—especially a seller, service provider, or customer‑service agent—that you are entitled to a refund. It works both in informal conversation (with ‘du’) and in more formal written complaints when the tone stays friendly.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DuhastdasRecht,deinGeldzurückzubekommen.
Verb 'haben' (2nd person singular)
‘hast’ is the present tense form of ‘haben’ for ‘du’, used to express possession or a state.
Noun phrase ‘das Recht’
‘das Recht’ means ‘the right’; it is a neuter noun and takes the definite article ‘das’.
Infinitive with ‘zu’ + separable verb
‘zurückzubekommen’ is the infinitive with ‘zu’ of the separable verb ‘zurückbekommen’ (to get back). In German, the ‘zu’ is inserted between the prefix and the stem.
Comma before infinitive clause
A comma is required before the infinitive clause ‘dein Geld zurückzubekommen’ because it is introduced by a noun (‘das Recht’).
🗨In Conversation
Ich habe das Produkt zurückgeschickt, aber noch kein Geld erhalten.
I returned the product, but I haven’t received any money yet.
Du hast das Recht, dein Geld zurückzubekommen.
You have the right to get your money back.
✕Common Mistakes
Du hast das Recht, dein Geld zurückbekommen.
The infinitive after ‘das Recht’ must include ‘zu’; the correct form is ‘zurückzubekommen’ as one word.
Du hast das Recht, dein Geld zurück zu bekommen.
While splitting the prefix is acceptable in spoken German, the standard written form keeps the prefix attached: ‘zurückzubekommen’. Splitting can look informal.
Du hast das Recht dein Geld zurückzubekommen.
A comma is required before the infinitive clause; omitting it is a punctuation error.
↔Alternatives
Du bist berechtigt, dein Geld zurückzuerhalten.
You are entitled to receive your money back.
Du hast Anspruch auf Rückerstattung deines Geldes.
You have a claim to a refund of your money.
Du darfst dein Geld zurückfordern.
You may demand your money back.
Cultural Tip
German consumer protection law (the ‘Gewährleistungsrecht’) gives buyers a strong right to refunds or replacements within a certain period. When you use this phrase, it signals that you are aware of those rights, which can make a seller take your request more seriously. In formal letters, you might replace ‘du’ with ‘Sie’ and use the more formal ‘Sie haben das Recht…’.