Which one should you use?
While я обещаю is the standard way to say "I promise", you may also encounter other forms. The word Обещаю is a shorter version that also means "I promise". For a more idiomatic expression, Даю слово can be used to mean "I give my word".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form обещаю is the first-person singular present tense of the verb обещать. If you want to express the past tense, the form changes based on your gender: a masculine speaker says я обещал, while a feminine speaker says я обещала. To promise not to do something, place the negation не directly before the infinitive verb, such as in обещаю не… When you follow the phrase with a full clause, it is common to use the conjunction что (that), as in обещаю, что…
How do you pronounce it?
ya obeshchayu
Did you know?
- In very informal settings, a Russian speaker might avoid я обещаю entirely and simply say сто пудов ('a hundred poods') to promise that something will definitely happen.
- In Russian culture, promising something 'on my health' (клянусь здоровьем) is a high-stakes oath that is considered far more binding and serious than a standard я обещаю.
- Russian has a specific noun обещание for a promise, but when someone breaks a promise, they are often described as пустослов ('empty-word person'), regardless of the formal phrasing used.
Examples in context
- Я обещаю не петь.I promise not to sing.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to promise not to do an action with the form я обещаю.Tatoeba #2668078 by Balamax, translation #2389890 by CK
- Я обещаю не шуметь.I promise I'll be quiet.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to promise to be quiet with the form я обещаю.Tatoeba #3956050 by odexed, translation #2389884 by CK
- Я обещаю, что не скажу.I promise I won't tell.This sentence shows how to use the phrase with the conjunction что with the form я обещаю.Tatoeba #4927939 by odexed, translation #2223788 by Hybrid
- Я обещаю прийти на встречу вовремя.I promise to come to the meeting on time.
- Я даю слово выполнить все обязательства.I give my word to fulfill all the obligations.
- Я клянусь, я помогу тебе в любой ситуации.I promise, I'll help you in any situation.
- 71 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Olga are talking about a meeting.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы придешь на встречу?Ty pridesh' na vstrechu?Will you come to the meeting?
- Ольга OlgaДа, я обещаю.Da, ya obeshchayu.Yes, I promise.
- Дмитрий DmitryОльга, не забудь про это.Ol'ga, ne zabud' pro eto.Olga, don't forget about it.
- Ольга OlgaЯ не забуду, Дмитрий.Ya ne zabudu, Dmitriy.I won't forget, Dmitry.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
