Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'promise'

English Word: promise

Key Russian Translations:

• обещание (/ɐˈbʲeʐənʲɪje/) - [Noun, Formal, Singular]
• обещать (/ɐˈbʲeʐətʲ/) - [Verb, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and formal contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic verb conjugations and noun declensions; for advanced users, nuances in "обещать" may reach B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обещание: /ɐˈbʲeʐənʲɪje/

Note on обещание: The stress is on the third syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the "sh" in "she" but softer.

обещать: /ɐˈbʲeʐətʲ/

Note on обещать: Stress on the third syllable; the final "ть" is a soft "t" sound, often devoiced at the end of words. Pay attention to the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Noun Meaning: A declaration or assurance that one will or will not do something

Translation(s) & Context:

• обещание - Used in formal or everyday contexts to refer to a commitment or pledge, often in personal or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Я даю обещание, что выполню задание вовремя.

  I give a promise that I will complete the task on time. (This example shows the noun in a formal commitment context.)

• Его обещание помочь вызвало доверие среди друзей.

  His promise to help inspired trust among friends. (Illustrates the noun in an interpersonal relationship scenario.)

• Политическое обещание было дано во время выборов.

  The political promise was made during the elections. (Demonstrates use in a public or official context.)

• Дети с нетерпением ждали обещания подарков на Новый год.

  The children eagerly awaited the promise of gifts for New Year's. (Shows the noun in a festive, informal family setting.)

Verb Meaning: To assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or not do something

Translation(s) & Context:

• обещать - Commonly used in promises involving future actions, suitable for both formal agreements and casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Я обещаю, что позвоню тебе вечером.

  I promise that I will call you in the evening. (Basic present tense usage in a personal context.)

• Компания обещала улучшить условия труда сотрудников.

  The company promised to improve working conditions for employees. (Formal context in a business setting.)

• Он обещал не повторять ошибку в будущем.

  He promised not to repeat the mistake in the future. (Emphasizes negative promises in reflective scenarios.)

• Мама обещала приготовить мой любимый пирог.

  Mom promised to bake my favorite pie. (Informal, familial context with emotional nuance.)

• Мы обещали друг другу встретиться на выходных.

  We promised each other to meet on the weekend. (Reciprocal promise in a social setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "обещание" (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

Note: This noun follows regular declension patterns with no irregularities.

For "обещать" (first conjugation verb):

This verb is regular but requires attention to gender in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • клятва (klyatva) - More formal, often implies a solemn oath; used in serious contexts like vows.
  • заверение (zaverénie) - Similar to "assurance"; preferred in legal or official promises.
• Antonyms:
  • нарушение (narushénie) - Meaning "breach" or "violation," contrasting with keeping a promise.
  • отказ (otkaz) - Meaning "refusal," indicating the opposite of making a commitment.

Related Phrases:

• Дать слово (Dat' slovo) - Literally "to give one's word"; a common phrase for making a promise in a trustworthy manner.
• Обещать горы золотые (Obeshchat' gory zolotye) - Idiomatic for "to promise the moon," implying exaggerated or unrealistic promises.
• Держать обещание (Derzhat' obeshchanie) - Meaning "to keep a promise," emphasizing follow-through in commitments.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "обещание" directly corresponds to the noun form of "promise" and is used similarly, but it often carries a more formal tone than in English. For the verb "обещать," it's crucial to conjugate based on subject and tense, and it's commonly used with future intentions. Choose "обещание" for static commitments and "обещать" for actions. Be mindful of cultural contexts where promises are taken very seriously, potentially leading to social obligations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "обещание" as a verb, e.g., saying "Я обещание помочь" instead of "Я обещаю помочь."
  Correct: "Я обещаю помочь" – Explanation: "Обещание" is a noun; use the verb "обещать" for promising actions to maintain grammatical accuracy.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., "Он обещания" instead of "Он обещает."
  Correct: "Он обещает" – Explanation: Verbs must agree with the subject; beginners often confuse noun and verb forms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, promises like those made in "обещание" or "обещать" are deeply tied to concepts of honor and trust. Breaking a promise can lead to significant social repercussions, reflecting historical values from Russian literature and folklore, such as in stories by Pushkin, where personal integrity is paramount.

Related Concepts:

• доверие (doverie) - Trust
• ответственность (otvetstvennost') - Responsibility
• соглашение (soglashenie) - Agreement