प्रतिज्ञा
pratijñā/pɾə.t̪ɪd͡ʒ.nɑː/feminine
The English phrase 'pledge' can be translated into Hindi using प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā). Wiktionary also lists वचन (vacan) and प्रण (praṇ).
Meaning: to make a solemn promise (verb)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| प्रतिज्ञा | pratijñā | /pɾə.t̪ɪd͡ʒ.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| वचन | vacan | /ʋə.t͡ʃən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| प्रण | praṇ | /pɾəɳ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
The words in Hindi are used to describe making a solemn promise.
Which one should you use?
प्रण implies a much stronger, more resolute vow, often used in the context of a life-long or extremely serious determination.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
प्रतिज्ञा is a formal, high-register term used for official oaths or solemn pledges. वचन and प्रण are masculine nouns. For informal situations, you can use kasam.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the verb 'to pledge' or 'to give one's word' using the noun वचन, you use the construction वचन देना. To express the action of 'to take a pledge' using the formal noun प्रतिज्ञा, you use प्रतिज्ञा करना.
How do you pronounce it?
pratijñā is pronounced /pɾə.t̪ɪdʒ.nɑː/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit root of वचन is also the ancestor of the English word 'voice', as both trace back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to speak'.
- In Hindi, the word वचन is a homonym that also refers to 'grammatical number'. It is used to distinguish between singular and plural forms of a word.
- In Indian epics like the Ramayana, वचन is treated as an unbreakable bond of honor. Breaking a वचन given by a king or warrior is often portrayed as a catastrophic moral failure.
Examples in context
- उसने अपनी प्रतिज्ञा निभाई।usne apnī pratigya nibhāī.She fulfilled her pledge.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a serious commitment made by a colleague.
- पूजा Poojaक्या राहुल ने अपनी प्रतिज्ञा पूरी की?kyā rāhul ne apnī pratigya pūrī kī?Did Rahul fulfill his pledge?
- राहुल Rahulहाँ, उसने अपनी प्रतिज्ञा निभाई है।hā̃, usne apnī pratigya nibhāī hai.Yes, he has kept his pledge.
- पूजा Poojaवह एक बहुत ईमानदार व्यक्ति है।vah ek bahut imāndār vyakti hai.He is a very honest person.
- राहुल Rahulपूजा, वह हमेशा अपने शब्दों का मान रखता है।pūjā, vah hamesha apne shabdon kā mān rakhtā hai.Pooja, he always keeps his word.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pledge” translations and entries प्रतिज्ञा, वचन, प्रण, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries प्रण, प्रतिज्ञा, वचन, CC BY-SA 4.0.
