Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pledge'

English Word: pledge

Key Russian Translations:

• Обещание /ɐˈbʲɪʂːənʲɪje/ - [Formal, Noun]
• Залог /zɐˈlog/ - [Formal, Noun]
• Обещать /ɐˈbʲeʂːatʲ/ - [Informal, Verb]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, legal contexts, and commitments)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'Обещание' and 'Залог'; A2 for 'Обещать' due to simpler verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Обещание: /ɐˈbʲɪʂːənʲɪje/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, hissing 'sh')

Note on Обещание: Be cautious with the soft 'bʲ' sound, which is palatalized; common in formal speech.

Залог: /zɐˈlog/ (Stress on the last syllable; the 'z' is voiced)

Note on Залог: The 'o' sound can vary slightly in rapid speech, but it's generally straightforward.

Обещать: /ɐˈbʲeʂːatʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; infinitive form)

Note on Обещать: The verb ending '-ать' often softens in conjugation, making it a common point of difficulty for learners.

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Meanings and Usage:

1. A solemn promise or undertaking (e.g., a commitment or vow).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Обещание - Used in formal contexts like personal commitments, legal agreements, or oaths.
• Обещать - Employed as a verb in everyday promises, often in informal or conversational settings.

Usage Examples:

• Я даю обещание выполнить задание вовремя.

  I give a pledge to complete the task on time. (Formal context, showing commitment in a professional setting.)

• Он пообещал помочь с ремонтом машины.

  He pledged to help with the car repair. (Informal verb usage in daily life, illustrating a verbal promise.)

• В контракте указано обязательное обещание конфиденциальности.

  The contract includes a mandatory pledge of confidentiality. (Legal context, emphasizing formal obligations.)

• Мы обещали друг другу встретиться завтра.

  We pledged to each other to meet tomorrow. (Social context, showing mutual agreement in conversation.)

• Её обещание изменить поведение было искренним.

  Her pledge to change her behavior was sincere. (Emotional context, highlighting personal vows.)

2. Something given as security for the fulfillment of a promise (e.g., collateral).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Залог - Typically used in financial or legal contexts, such as pawnshops or loans.

Usage Examples:

• Он оставил свой телефон в залог за займ.

  He left his phone as a pledge for the loan. (Financial context, demonstrating collateral in a transaction.)

• Банк требует залог для одобрения кредита.

  The bank requires a pledge for loan approval. (Formal banking scenario, illustrating security requirements.)

• Этот ювелирный залог был возвращен после оплаты долга.

  This jewelry pledge was returned after the debt was paid. (Pawnshop context, showing recovery of collateral.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Обещание' (neuter noun, 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun inflections:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Обещание	Обещания
Genitive	Обещания	Обещаний
Dative	Обещанию	Обещаниям
Accusative	Обещание	Обещания
Instrumental	Обещанием	Обещаниями
Prepositional	Обещании	Обещаниях

For 'Залог' (neuter noun, 2nd declension), similar inflections apply:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Залог	Залоги
Genitive	Залога	Залогов

For 'Обещать' (verb, 1st conjugation), it is irregular in some forms:

Tense	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular	etc.
Present	Обещаю	Обещаешь	...
Past	Обещал (masc.)	Обещала (fem.)	...

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for Обещание: Клятва (more solemn, often religious), Слово (informal, implying one's word)
• Synonyms for Залог: Задаток (deposit in a transaction)
• Synonyms for Обещать: Обещать can be synonymous with Заверять in formal contexts
• Antonyms: Нарушение (violation, opposite of keeping a promise)

Related Phrases:

• Дать обещание - To give a promise (used for making commitments in personal or professional settings).
• Взять в залог - To take as collateral (common in financial dealings, implying security for a loan).
• Обещать под честное слово - To pledge on one's honor (informal phrase emphasizing sincerity).

Usage Notes:

'Обещание' directly corresponds to 'pledge' as a noun in formal English contexts, but it's more commonly used for promises rather than collateral. Choose 'Залог' for financial pledges. 'Обещать' as a verb is versatile but avoid it in very formal written Russian where 'Заверять' might be preferred. Grammatically, nouns like 'Обещание' require correct case agreement, e.g., in prepositional phrases. For multiple translations, select based on context: use 'Обещать' for verbal actions and 'Обещание' for nouns.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Обещать' in the wrong tense, e.g., saying "Я обещал вчера" when it should be "Я обещал вчера" (correct), but learners often forget gender agreement in past tense (e.g., "Я обещала" for females). Correct: Always match the past tense ending to the subject's gender.
• Mistake: Confusing 'Залог' with 'Обещание' in non-financial contexts, e.g., saying "Я оставил обещание" instead of "Я дал обещание." Correct: Use 'Залог' only for physical security; explain with: Incorrect Russian: "Я оставил обещание за деньги" | Correct: "Я оставил залог за деньги."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a 'pledge' like 'Обещание' often carries a strong sense of personal honor, influenced by historical traditions such as Soviet-era commitments or literary works by authors like Tolstoy, where breaking a promise is seen as a moral failure. 'Залог' reflects practical, everyday realities in Russia's economic history, such as pawnshops during times of scarcity.

Related Concepts:

• Клятва (oath)
• Слово (word, as in one's promise)
• Гарантия (guarantee)