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das Versprechen

promise

Definition & meaning

Das Versprechen has two main meanings:

  1. A promise or commitment
    It is a statement that someone will do something or that something will happen.

    • Er hat sein Versprechen gehalten. — “He kept his promise.”
    • Sie gab ihm ein Versprechen. — “She made him a promise.”

  2. A slip of the tongue
    It can also mean an accidental mistake while speaking, especially when someone says the wrong word or phrase.

    • Das war nur ein Versprechen. — “That was just a slip of the tongue.”

The meaning is determined by the context. In the first sense, it is related to reliability and commitment; in the second, it refers to an error in speech.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: neuter
  • Article: das
  • Plural: die Versprechen
  • Genitive singular: des Versprechens

The noun comes from the verb versprechen , which consists of:

  • ver- — a prefix that can indicate a change, completion, or an incorrect action
  • sprechen — “to speak”

The meaning “promise” developed from giving one’s word. The meaning “slip of the tongue” is connected to the reflexive verb sich versprechen , meaning “to misspeak” or “to say the wrong thing.”

Synonyms & antonyms

In the sense of “promise”

  • die Zusage — an assurance or confirmation that something will happen; it is often more formal or practical than das Versprechen.
  • die Verheißung — a promise or pledge, often with a solemn, elevated, religious, or literary tone.
  • das Gelöbnis — a solemn vow, generally stronger and more formal than das Versprechen.
  • der Eid — an oath sworn in a formal or legal context; it is stronger and more ceremonial than an ordinary promise.

There is no exact single antonym. Depending on the context, possible opposites include:

  • die Absage — a refusal or cancellation rather than a commitment.
  • der Wortbruch — the breaking of a promise; this is not an opposite of a promise itself, but the failure to keep one.
  • die Nichteinhaltung — non-fulfilment, especially in formal or administrative language.

In the sense of “slip of the tongue”

  • der Versprecher — a specific spoken mistake or mispronunciation; this is usually the more common word for an individual slip of the tongue.
  • der Sprachfehler — a speech or language error, often suggesting a more general or persistent problem rather than a single accidental mistake.

There is no direct standard antonym for das Versprechen in this sense. Die korrekte Aussage (“the correct statement”) can function as a contextual opposite.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ein Versprechen geben — to make a promise
  • ein Versprechen halten — to keep a promise
  • ein Versprechen brechen — to break a promise
  • ein Versprechen einlösen — to fulfil or honour a promise
  • jemandem ein Versprechen abnehmen — to obtain a promise from someone
  • sein Versprechen zurücknehmen — to withdraw one’s promise
  • ein leeres Versprechen — an empty promise
  • ein großes Versprechen [?](vocabuo://word großes%20Versprechen) — a major or ambitious promise
  • ein Versprechen für die Zukunft — something showing strong future potential, often used for a person, product, or project
  • sich versprechen — to misspeak or make a slip of the tongue

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Examples

Er hielt sein Versprechen leider nicht ein.other

Unfortunately, he did not keep his promise.

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