French Conversation · Level 29
89 words
French word
promettre
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁomɛtʁ/
Meaning
- verbpromise
Example
Il m'a promis qu'il reviendrait.
He promised me he would come back.
More examples
Elle m'a promis de venir demain.
She promised me she would come tomorrow.
Core concept
A speaker places a future action or thing in another person's hands as a firm commitment.
Common phrases
promettre de
promise to ___
promettre à quelqu'un
promise someone
promettre quelque chose
promise something
Similar words
assurer: Give someone confidence or reassurance through words or actions.
jurer: Swear firmly that something is true or will be done.
s'engager: Declare a commitment to take future action or accept responsibility.
Definition in French
S'engager oralement ou par écrit envers quelqu'un à faire quelque chose ou à fournir quelque chose à l'avenir.
Word origin
French promettre comes through Old French from Latin promittere, formed from pro- meaning 'forward' and mittere meaning 'send', with 'put forward' developing into 'undertake'.
Usage tips
- The usual patterns are promettre quelque chose à quelqu'un and promettre à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose, with the recipient introduced by à.
Other meanings
- guaranteeverb
Related words
- promessepromisenoun
- prometteurpromisingadjective