regret 
[noun]
[de spijt, <no plural>]

"Spijt" is the Dutch equivalent of "regret". It is often used in the construction "spijt hebben van iets", which literally translates to "to have regret over something", but which is commonly translated with "to regret something".

The related verb is "spijten": to regret. You may sometimes here the somewhat formal phrase: "Het spijt me", which literally translates to "It regrets me", but which is best translated with "I’m sorry". However, the Dutch mostly use "sorry" to express their regret over small everyday issues 🙂

Examples:
– "Ik heb geen spijt van mijn beslissing." 
("I don’t regret my decision.")

– "Zullen we nog een afzakkertje doen?" – "Het spijt me, ik ben blut…"
("Shall we have one for the road?" – "I’m sorry, I’m broke…")

– "Spijt…dat heb ik een paar keer gehad…" 
("Regrets…I’ve had a few…" Lit.: "Regret…I’ve had that a couple of times…")

– "Het spijt me voor je."
("I feel sorry for you.")

– "Waarom heb je de afwas nog niet gedaan?" – "Sorry schat, er was voetbal op TV…"
("Why haven’t you done the dishes yet?" – "Sorry honey, there was (a) soccer (match) on TV…")

Expressions:
– "Tot mijn/onze spijt": I/we regret to [+ verb]. Lit.: "To our regret".

Example:
– "Tot onze spijt moeten wij u mededelen dat de trein van half tien niet zal vertrekken vandaag." 
("We regret to inform you that the 9.30h train will not depart today.")

– "Spijt betuigen": to express one’s regrets.

Related words:
– Helaas: unfortunately [adverb].
– Jammer: too bad, (it’s a) pity [adverb].
– Berouw: remorse [noun] [het berouw, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Zondaar! Toon berouw over uw zonden, en gij zult vergeven worden!"
("Sinner! Show remorse over your sins, and thou shallt be forgiven")