Wurdest

Wurdest is the second-person singular simple past tense form of the German verb werden. In standard German, this form is written as two words: du wurdest. It translates roughly as “you became” or “you were,” depending on context, and is used to describe a past change of state or to express past passive constructions when combined with a past participle (for example, du wurdest gesehen – you were seen).

Grammatical notes: Werden is an irregular verb with its own past tense forms. The full simple past conjugation in the second person singular is ich wurde, du wurdest, er wurde, wir wurden, ihr wurdet, sie wurden. The form wurdest is derived from the stem wurd- plus the standard second-person singular ending; modern spelling uses separate words for du wurdest.

Etymology and function: Werden originates in the Germanic verb family and serves as the primary auxiliary in German for future tense and passive voice. Its past tense forms, including wurdest, are used in narrative prose to indicate completed states or events in the past. Wurdest itself is not a stand-alone lexical entry but a conjugated form of werden.

Usage notes: In everyday language, du wurdest appears frequently in storytelling and dialogue. It is used both for expressive pasts (“you became tired”) and for passive/passive-like constructions in the past (“you were seen,” “you were chosen,” etc.). Learners should distinguish du wurdest from du wirst (present tense “you become”) and from other persons’ forms.

Examples: Du wurdest müde. You became tired. Du wurdest gestern von deiner Mutter angerufen. You were called by your mother yesterday. Du wurdest von der Prüfung überrascht. You were surprised by the exam.