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wa'ada
to promise
وعد (wa'ada) is a verb meaning 'to promise' or 'to pledge.' It expresses a commitment or guarantee to do something in the future, often implying a binding obligation. The word carries the sense of a solemn undertaking and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts in Arabic.
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وعدني بأنه سيأتي غداً.
Wa'adani bi-annahu sa-ya'ti ghadan.
He promised me that he will come tomorrow.
وعدت والدتي بمساعدتها في البيت.
Wa'adtu walidati bi-musa'adatiha fi al-bayt.
I promised my mother to help her with the house.
الحكومة وعدت بتحسين الخدمات الصحية.
Al-hukumah wa'adat bi-tahsin al-khidmat al-sihhiyyah.
The government promised to improve health services.
هل وعدت بحضور الحفلة؟
Hal wa'adta bi-hudur al-hafla?
Did you promise to attend the party?
وعد الشاب فتاته بالزواج قريباً.
Wa'ada al-shabb fatayahu bi-al-ziwaj qaribaan.
The young man promised his girlfriend that they would marry soon.
In Arabic culture, promises hold significant weight and are often considered binding commitments tied to personal honor and integrity. Breaking a promise is viewed seriously and can damage one's reputation. The concept of وعد is deeply embedded in Islamic teachings, where keeping promises is considered a virtue (من الصفات الحميدة).
Remember that وعد is typically followed by the preposition ب (bi-) when introducing what is being promised. The verb can be conjugated to match different subjects and tenses. Pay attention to context—a promise can be binding or casual depending on the situation, but the word itself always implies an obligation to fulfill the stated commitment.
The Arabic word وعد (wa'ada) is a fundamental verb that means 'to promise,' 'to pledge,' or 'to give one's word.' It represents a commitment or guarantee made by one person to another regarding future action. When someone وعد (wa'ada), they are making a binding statement about what they will do in the future, whether that's keeping an appointment, delivering something, or fulfilling an obligation.
The word carries significant weight in Arabic, as it implies more than just casual speech—it represents an actual commitment backed by honor and personal integrity. In modern Arabic, whether spoken in the Levantine, Egyptian, Saudi, or other dialects, this verb is universally understood and regularly used in daily conversations.
وعد is a regular triliteral verb in Arabic, built from the root و-ع-د. It conjugates like other regular verbs, changing its form based on the subject, tense, and mood. In the perfect tense (past), it follows the pattern:
In the imperfect tense (present/future), the verb follows the pattern:
When using وعد, it is typically followed by the preposition ب (bi-), meaning 'with' or 'about,' to introduce the object of the promise. For example:
The verb can also be used with an indirect object (using ب or other prepositions) to specify who received the promise or what was promised.
In Arabic and Islamic culture, the concept of وعد (promise) holds deep importance. Islam teaches that keeping one's word is a fundamental characteristic of believers, as mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. The word وفى بوعده (he kept his promise) is a term of high praise, while أخلف بوعده (he broke his promise) indicates dishonor and loss of trust.
Throughout history, keeping promises has been emphasized in Arabic literature, poetry, and moral teachings. A person's reputation and trustworthiness are largely judged by their ability to keep their وعود (promises). Breaking a promise publicly can result in social stigma and loss of credibility.
Understanding وعد is enhanced by learning related words:
In business contexts, وعد might be used to describe commitments between parties. A vendor might وعد (promise) to deliver goods by a certain date. In personal relationships, someone might وعد their friend to help them move house.
In formal or governmental contexts, institutions and leaders often وعد (promise) reforms, services, or improvements to the public. The media frequently discusses whether officials have وعد (promised) versus actually delivered on their commitments.
English speakers learning Arabic should practice the conjugation of وعد in both perfect and imperfect tenses. Pay attention to how the verb is used with prepositions, particularly ب. Try to construct sentences where you promise specific actions, as this will help internalize the usage pattern. Additionally, learning the opposite concept—أخلف (to break a promise)—will help you understand the full spectrum of promise-related vocabulary and appreciate the cultural importance of promise-keeping in Arabic societies.