berouw

Berouw is a Dutch noun meaning remorse or contrition for having committed a wrongdoing, typically accompanied by a wish to make amends. It connotes a sincere, morally charged regret that can motivate someone to change their behavior, apologize, or seek forgiveness. In everyday language, berouw often implies a deeper sense of responsibility than ordinary disappointment.

The term derives from the verb berouwen, to regret or repent, with berouw as the noun form. It appears in various combinations such as berouw hebben (to feel remorse), tot berouw komen (to come to remorse), and berouw tonen (to show remorse). The expression is common in both secular and religious Dutch usage.

Berouw is frequently contrasted with spijt, another Dutch word for regret. Spijt can denote general disappointment or remorse without a strong moral dimension, whereas berouw emphasizes moral responsibility and a commitment to change. In religious contexts, berouw is tied to repentance before God and the intention to amend one’s ways; in secular contexts it can accompany apologies, restitution, or behavioral reform.

Psychological and cultural perspectives treat berouw as an affective state that can influence ethical decision-making and interpersonal forgiveness. While it is not a legal term per se, expressions of berouw may be considered in discussions of remorse in sentencing or reconciliation processes. Overall, berouw describes a person’s sincere, morally rooted regret and the impetus to repair the harm caused.