Promise in different languages

Promise in Different Languages

Discover 'Promise' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'promise' carries a significant weight in our daily lives, shaping our expectations and relationships. It represents a commitment or assurance made by one person to another, and its cultural importance is evident across the globe.

Promises have been a part of human history since the dawn of time. From ancient civilizations to modern societies, the act of promising has been a fundamental aspect of social interactions. In many cultures, breaking a promise is seen as a serious breach of trust and can have significant consequences.

Understanding the translation of 'promise' in different languages can provide valuable insights into the cultural nuances and values associated with this word. For example, in Spanish, 'promise' is 'promesa,' while in French, it is 'promesse.' These translations not only help us communicate effectively across languages but also deepen our appreciation for the cultural significance of this powerful word.

In this article, we will explore the translations of 'promise' in various languages, shedding light on the fascinating cultural and historical contexts associated with this word.

Promise


Promise in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbelofte
"Belofte" derives from "beloven" (Dutch, meaning "to vow"), and it has the same root as "believe" (Latin "bellus", meaning "fine" or "good").
Amharicተስፋ
The verb "ተስፋ" can also mean "to hope" or "to expect" in Amharic.
Hausaalƙawari
The word "alƙawari" shares an etymological root with "ƙwara" (truth) and can also mean "truth" or "oath"
Igbonkwa
The Igbo word 'nkwa' can also refer to a 'vow' or 'oath'.
Malagasyteny fikasana
Nyanja (Chichewa)lonjezo
The word "lonjezo" can also mean "vow" or "assurance" in Nyanja.
Shonavimbisa
The Shona word "vimbisa" is also used as a shortened form of the more formal verb phrase "kuvimbisa mhiko", which means "to make a promise".
Somaliballanqaad
The word "ballanqaad" is also used to describe a "deed" or an "agreement.
Sesothotshepiso
In Sesotho, "tshepiso" can refer specifically to the promise of marriage or betrothal.
Swahiliahadi
In addition to its primary meaning of "promise," "ahadi" in Swahili can also mean "vow," "oath," or "pledge."
Xhosaisithembiso
The term "isithembiso" originates from the concept of "an oath bound by an individual to an external authority" or "something that one is held accountable for".
Yorubaileri
The word "ileri" can also mean "to agree" or "to consent".
Zuluisithembiso
The word "isithembiso" can also mean "agreement" or "assurance" in Zulu.
Bambaraka lahidu ta
Eweŋgbedodo
Kinyarwandaamasezerano
Lingalaelaka
Lugandaokusuubiza
Sepeditshephišo
Twi (Akan)hyɛ bɔ

Promise in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicوعد
The word وعد (promise) also has the connotation of "connection" or "appointment" in Arabic.
Hebrewהַבטָחָה
The word הַבְטָחָה (promise) is derived from the root ב.ט.ח (to trust).
Pashtoژمنه
The word "ژمنه" also means "guarantee" and "covenant" in Pashto.
Arabicوعد
The word وعد (promise) also has the connotation of "connection" or "appointment" in Arabic.

Promise in Western European Languages

Albanianpremtim
The word 'premtim' is derived from the Latin word 'promittere', meaning 'to make a solemn promise' or 'to pledge'.
Basqueagindu
Other meanings of 'agindu' include: 'rule', 'law', 'statute', 'principle', 'precept', 'doctrine', 'system', 'method', 'discipline', 'procedure', 'pattern', 'formula', 'model', 'design', 'formula', 'template', 'recipe', 'blueprint', 'plan'
Catalanpromesa
"Promesa" derives from the Latin word "promittere," meaning "to send forward," indicating an obligation that must be fulfilled.
Croatianobećanje
In Croatian, the word "obećanje" also means "assurance," with roots in the Proto-Slavic word "oběšteti," meaning "to hang".
Danishløfte
In Old Norse, **løfte** also meant "to lift". Therefore, the phrase "at give et løfte" means literally "to give a lift".
Dutchbelofte
The word "belofte" (promise) is derived from the Old Dutch "bilofti" (obligation), meaning a binding agreement.
Englishpromise
The word 'promise' comes from the Old French 'promesse', meaning 'a pledge or undertaking'.
Frenchpromettre
Promettre is derived from the Latin
Frisiantasizzing
The word "tasizzing" is derived from the Old Frisian word "tas" (assurance) and likely means "that which is assured".
Galicianpromesa
In Galician, "promesa" also means "betrothal" or "marriage proposal".
Germanversprechen
In German, "versprechen" also means "to misspeak" or "to commit a mistake in speaking".
Icelandiclofa
"Lofa" is also a term for the leaf of a tree.
Irishgealladh
The word "gealladh" derives from the Old Irish word "geill", meaning "hostage".
Italianpromettere
The word "promettere" in Italian is derived from the Latin "promittere," which means "to send forward" or "to put before.
Luxembourgishverspriechen
The Luxembourgish word "verspriechen" is derived from Old High German, where it meant "to arrange, to secure".
Maltesewegħda
The root verb -w-ʕ-d ('to promise, to assure') also gives rise to wiċċ ('face, appearance, aspect, countenance, visage, expression, favour'), which can express the notion of a person's 'promising, alluring, agreeable' aspect.
Norwegianlove
In Old Norse, "love" also meant "to praise" or "to make a vow".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)promessa
"Promessa" is derived from the Latin word "promittere", meaning "to send out" or "to put forward", thus also being used to denote "an offering" (especially in a religious context).
Scots Gaelicgealladh
In Scottish Gaelic, the term 'gealladh' also carries meanings related to assurance or pledge.
Spanishpromesa
"Promesa" comes from the Latin word "promittere", meaning "to let go" or "to release".
Swedishlöfte
The word "löfte" is derived from the Old Norse word "lof", which means "praise" or "vow". It can also refer to a legal obligation or a solemn declaration.
Welshaddewid
The word "addewid" in Welsh can also refer to an oath or a covenant.

Promise in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianабяцаю
"Абяцаю" is etymologically related to the Russian "обещать" and Polish "obiecać", all of which come from the Proto-Slavic "oběštati" meaning "to promise".
Bosnianobećaj
It originally referred to the gift or bribe one gave to seal a contract. Today, the gift is usually money.
Bulgarianобещавам
The word "обещавам" in Bulgarian also refers to making a vow or a pledge.
Czechslib
The word "slib" (promise) in Czech comes from the Proto-Slavic "*slibu" which is related to "*slobodъ" meaning free.
Estonianlubadus
The word "lubadus" is derived from the Proto-Uralic root *lupa-, meaning "to ask" or "to beg".
Finnishlupaus
In Proto-Indo-European, the word *leup- meant "to long for, to yearn for".
Hungarianígéret
The word "ígéret" (promise) comes from the Proto-Uralic word "*ikɜ" meaning "to swear, to promise".
Latvianapsolīt
Apsolit can also refer to a formal agreement or a vow made to a deity.
Lithuanianpažadas
The word "pažadas" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰedʰ-", meaning "to bind", and is related to the Latin word "fides" and the English word "faith".
Macedonianветување
The Slavic word "ветување" (promise) originally referred to a formal agreement between two parties.
Polishobietnica
The word "obietnica" is derived from the Old Slavic word "obiet", meaning "to make a promise". It also has the alternate meaning of "a vow".
Romanianpromisiune
The Romanian word "promisiune" derives from the Latin word "promissio" but may also mean "betrothal" or "covenant."
Russianобещание
"Обещать" comes from the Old Russian word "обѣщати", which means "to bind".
Serbianобећај
Обећај is a cognate of the Proto-Slavic word *oběćati, "to offer," also found in Bulgarian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, and Polish.
Slovaksľub
The Slovak word "sľub" comes from the Old Slavic root "ľubiti", which also means "to love".
Slovenianobljubi
The word "obljubi" is not related to "ljubiti" (to love), but rather to "ljub" (dear), and it originally meant "to ask for something in a friendly way, to entreat."
Ukrainianобіцянка
"Обіцянка" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *obětiti, meaning "to offer a sacrifice".

Promise in South Asian Languages

Bengaliপ্রতিশ্রুতি
The word "প্রতিশ্রুতি" is derived from the Sanskrit word "प्रति-श्रु-ति" meaning "in return for hearing" or "in response to a request".
Gujaratiવચન
The Gujarati word "વચન" (vachan) is also used as a synonym for "speech" and "statement."
Hindiवादा
वादा ('promise') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'वाक्य' (sentence or speech), which also means 'to promise'.
Kannadaಭರವಸೆ
The word "ಭರವಸೆ" can also mean "reliance" or "confidence".
Malayalamവാഗ്ദാനം
Marathiवचन
The word "वचन" in Marathi can also refer to a sacred vow or a mantra.
Nepaliवाचा
The word "वाचा" also means "speech" or "talk" in Sanskrit, its root language.
Punjabiਵਾਅਦਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)පොරොන්දුව
Tamilவாக்குறுதி
வாக்குறுதி (vākkuṟuti) literally means 'speech protection' and implies that a promise should be kept.
Teluguవాగ్దానం
The Telugu word "వాగ్దానం" is an abstract noun derived from the Sanskrit word "वचन" ("vchana"), meaning "speech or word". Additionally, it can also imply a vow or a formal assurance.
Urduوعدہ
The word "وعدہ" can be used in other contexts to mean "contract" or "engagement".

Promise in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)诺言
诺言 can be used as a verb, meaning 'to promise', or a noun, meaning 'a promise'.
Chinese (Traditional)諾言
The word "諾言" also means "a solemn oath" or "a vow".
Japanese約束する
約束する, meaning “to promise”, originally stemmed from 束ねる (つなぐ) meaning “to tie together”.
Korean약속
The Sino-Korean word 약속 (yaksok) traces its roots to the Chinese words "約束" (yuēsuò), meaning "mutual promise" or "agreement", suggesting its origin in the concept of reciprocal obligation in East Asian cultures.
Mongolianамлах
The word "амлах" can also mean "vow" or "pledge".
Myanmar (Burmese)ကတိ
It also means "a prediction which comes true" in the Pali language and "a good and beautiful flower" in the Sanskrit language.

Promise in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianjanji
"Janji" is also used to denote a type of traditional Malay dance usually performed at celebratory occasions.
Javanesejanji
The Javanese word "janji" shares its root with the Sanskrit word "jati", meaning "to be".
Khmerការសន្យា
The Khmer word ការសន្យា, meaning 'promise', is derived from the Sanskrit 'sam + ni + ya', meaning 'to bind together'.
Laoສັນຍາ
The Lao word "sanya" ("ສັນຍາ") comes from the Sanskrit word "samjña," which also means "sign" or "symbol."}
Malayjanji
In Malay, "janji" not only means "promise", but also carries meanings of "bet" or "agreement" made between two individuals.
Thaiสัญญา
The Thai word "สัญญา" comes from the Sanskrit word "samjña", meaning "sign" or "symbol". It can also refer to a "contract" or "agreement".
Vietnameselời hứa
"Lời hứa" is also the name of a Vietnamese song about a promise from the perspective of a lover.
Filipino (Tagalog)pangako

Promise in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanisöz ver
"Söz ver" literally translates to "to give a word" in Azerbaijani.
Kazakhуәде беру
The Kazakh word "уәде беру" can also mean "to give a vow" or "to make an oath".
Kyrgyzубада
Убада (promise) may also refer to an agreement between two people.
Tajikваъда додан
The word "ваъда додан" comes from the Persian phrase "وعده دادن" and literally means "giving a word".
Turkmenwada bermek
Uzbekva'da
The word "va'da" in Uzbek also has the alternate meanings of "agreement" and "contract".
Uyghurۋەدە

Promise in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoʻohiki
When used as a noun, "hoʻohiki" also means "oath."
Maorikupu whakaari
The word 'kupu whakaari' literally means 'word of fire', a reference to the strength and importance of a promise.
Samoanfolafolaga
The word 'folafolaga' in Samoan can also be used to refer to a covenant or agreement between two or more parties.
Tagalog (Filipino)pangako
"Pangako" originates from the Proto-Austronesian word "*paŋakuŋ" meaning "obligation", "duty", or "promise".

Promise in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraarsuta
Guaraniñe'ẽme'ẽngue

Promise in International Languages

Esperantopromesi
Esperanto's "promesi" comes from the Latin "promitto," so it also means "to promise" in English.
Latinpromissum
The Latin word 'promissum' is derived from the verb 'promittere' which means 'to send forth, to put forward, to offer'.

Promise in Others Languages

Greekυπόσχεση
While "υπόσχεση" primarily means "promise", its root " ὑπ_ι_σχ_νέομαι" signifies "to stretch something under", referring to an implied contract established by verbal commitment.
Hmonglus cog tseg
In the Black Hmong dialect, “lus cog tseg” can also refer to the ritual process of animal sacrifice for divination or the curing of illness.
Kurdishahd
The word "ahd" in Kurdish also means "covenant" or "treaty".
Turkishsöz vermek
The verb "söz vermek" in Turkish literally means "to give a word".
Xhosaisithembiso
The term "isithembiso" originates from the concept of "an oath bound by an individual to an external authority" or "something that one is held accountable for".
Yiddishצוזאָג
"צוזאָג" (promise) in Yiddish can be translated back to the Hebrew "צוּזָג" (same pronunciation), which means "something that is pulled towards" or "an addition."
Zuluisithembiso
The word "isithembiso" can also mean "agreement" or "assurance" in Zulu.
Assameseপ্ৰতিশ্ৰুতি
Aymaraarsuta
Bhojpuriवादा
Dhivehiހުވާ
Dogriकौल
Filipino (Tagalog)pangako
Guaraniñe'ẽme'ẽngue
Ilocanokari
Krioprɔmis
Kurdish (Sorani)پەیمان
Maithiliवचन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯋꯥꯁꯛꯄ
Mizothutiam
Oromowaadaa
Odia (Oriya)ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା
Quechuasullullchay
Sanskritवचनं
Tatarвәгъдә
Tigrinyaቃል
Tsongatshembhisa

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