This is the 11384th most frequent French word.
regretter
To feel sorry or remorse about something.
Here, 'regretter' expresses a feeling of lament over a past action (or inaction) the speaker wishes had been different.
Je regrette de ne pas être venu à la fête.
I regret not having come to the party.
In this instance, 'regretter' denotes a sense of remorse or dissatisfaction with a significant past decision.
Il regrette son choix de carrière après tout ce temps.
He regrets his career choice after all this time.
This sentence uses 'regretter' to convey sadness or disappointment over an unchangeable circumstance affecting the future.