beloof

Beloof is a Dutch word most commonly encountered as the imperative form of the verb beloven, meaning to promise. It functions as a direct command or request to someone to make a promise, as in sentences like “Beloof het me” (Promise it to me).

The related verb beloven is widely used in everyday Dutch, with additional forms for different tenses and moods, such as the present tense and the past tense, and the noun belofte meaning “a promise.” In usage, belofte is the noun that denotes the act or result of promising, while beloven encompasses the act itself, including its imperative mood signaled by be specific forms like bloed? (Note: the imperative is the command form used to urge someone to promise.)

Etymologically, beloven and its imperative beloof share roots with other Germanic languages that express promising or oath-taking, reflecting a common linguistic heritage across Dutch, German, and English. The concept of promising is a core semantic field across these languages, and beloof connects directly to that field in Dutch.

See also: belofte, beloven, Dutch language.