Vow
Definition
A vow is a solemn promise, pledge, or commitment to perform a specific act, or refrain from performing a specific act.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb (to vow)
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /vaʊ/
- Respelling: vow
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /vaʊ/
- Respelling: vow
In both American and British English, "vow" is pronounced with a long "ow" sound as in "how." The pronunciation is essentially the same in both versions of English.
Etymology
Derived from the Old French word "vou", which means "wish, promise, pledge". The word is traced back to the Latin "votum", meaning "pledge, vow, promise", which is also the source of the word "vote".
Derivatives
- Vowed
- Vowing
- Vowless
- Vower
- Vows
Synonyms
- Pledge
- Oath
- Promise
Antonyms
- Break
- Renounce
- Retract
Usage
A vow can be a deeply personal commitment, often with religious or spiritual significance. For example, many people take marriage vows, pledging commitment to their partner.
Related Terms
- Affirmation
- Commitment
- Covenant
- Swear
- Pledge
Detailed Definition
Noun
- A vow refers to a solemn or sacred promise or commitment, often made to a deity or in a religious context.
- Example: He took a vow of silence for a year.
Verb (to vow)
- To make a solemn promise or commitment, often invoking a higher power or in a formal setting.
- Example: She vowed to always remain loyal to her friend.
- To dedicate or consecrate by means of a vow.
- Example: They vowed their lives to the service of humanity.
vow
In the presence of the priest, he made a sacred vow.
She vowed to always remain loyal to her friend.
They vowed their lives to the service of humanity.
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
- 誓言 (shìyán) - solemn promise
- IPA: /ʂʰì.jɛn˧˩˧/
- Respelling: SHI-yen
- 发誓 (fā shì) - to swear
- IPA: /fā ʂʰì/
- Respelling: FAH-SHI
🇮🇳 Hindi
- प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) - solemn promise
- IPA: /prət̪ɪd͡ʒɲaː/
- Respelling: pra-TIJ-nyaa
- शपथ लेना (śapath lenā) - to swear
- IPA: /ʃəpət̪ʰ leːnə/
- Respelling: SHAP-ath LAY-na
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Voto
- IPA: /ˈboto/
- Respelling: BO-to
- Jurar
- IPA: /xuˈrar/
- Respelling: hu-RAR
🇫🇷 French
- Vœu
- IPA: /vø/
- Respelling: VEU
- Jurer
- IPA: /ʒyʁe/
- Respelling: ZHU-ray
🇦🇪 Modern Standard Arabic
- عهد (ʿahd) - solemn promise
- IPA: /ʕahd/
- Respelling: 'AHD
- يقسم (yaqsam) - to swear
- IPA: /jaqsam/
- Respelling: ya-QSAM
🇧🇩 Bengali
- প্রতিজ্ঞা (pratijñā) - solemn promise
- IPA: /pro.ti.d͡ʒɲaː/
- Respelling: pro-TIJ-NAA
- শপথ করা (śapath kara) - to swear
- IPA: /ʃɔpɔt̪ʰ kɔɹa/
- Respelling: SHO-path KO-ra
🇷🇺 Russian
- Обет (obet) - solemn promise
- IPA: /ɐˈbjɛt/
- Respelling: oh-BYET
- Клясться (klyat'sya) - to swear
- IPA: /klʲæt͡sʲsʲə/
- Respelling: KLYAT-sya
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Voto
- IPA: /ˈvotu/
- Respelling: VOH-too
- Jurar
- IPA: /ʒuˈɾaʁ/
- Respelling: zhoo-RAR
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Sumpah - solemn promise or to swear
- IPA: /sum.pah/
- Respelling: SOOM-pah
🇩🇪 German
- Gelübde
- IPA: /ɡəˈlʏbdə/
- Respelling: geh-LUUB-deh
- Schwören
- IPA: /ʃvøː.ʁən/
- Respelling: SHVOO-ren
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 誓い (chikai) - solemn promise
- IPA: /t͡ɕikai/
- Respelling: CHIKAI
- 誓う (chikau) - to swear
- IPA: /t͡ɕikau̯/
- Respelling: CHIKOW
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Lời thề - solemn promise
- IPA: /lɤːj tʰeː˧ˀ˨ʔ/
- Respelling: LOY THEE
- Thề - to swear
- IPA: /tʰeː˧ˀ˨ʔ/
- Respelling: THEE
🇰🇷 Korean
- 서약 (seoyak) - solemn promise
- IPA: /sʌ.jak̚/
- Respelling: SUH-YAK
- 맹세하다 (maengsehada) - to swear
- IPA: /mɛŋ.sʰe̞.ha.da/
- Respelling: MENG-SE-HA-DA
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Yemin - solemn promise or to swear
- IPA: /jeˈmin/
- Respelling: YEH-min
🇵🇰 Urdu
- عہد (ahd) - solemn promise
- IPA: /əhd/
- Respelling: AHD
- حلف اٹھانا (half uthānā) - to swear
- IPA: /ɦʌlf ʊt̪ʰaː.naː/
- Respelling: HALF uth-AA-na
