compromiso

Compromiso is a Spanish noun with several related senses, including commitment, obligation, engagement, and a formal agreement. It can refer to a personal dedication to a cause, a promise to fulfill duties, or a legal or political settlement reached between parties. In everyday language, it also denotes a scheduled engagement or a prior obligation, as in tengo un compromiso a las seis.

Etymology: The term comes from Latin compromisum, via Old French compromis, originally meaning a mutual pledge or agreement. In Spanish, the word broadened from a personal pledge to include formal obligations and settlements in legal, professional, and social contexts.

Usage and nuance: In personal life, "tener un compromiso" means to have a prior engagement; "cumplir con un compromiso" is to honor it. In professional settings, it conveys accountability and dedication to goals or projects. In legal or diplomatic contexts, it can denote a formal agreement, a settlement, or a pledge to uphold a policy. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with "promesa," but "compromiso" often carries a stronger sense of obligation or enforceability.

See also and related terms: comprometer (to commit or implicate), compromiso social (social commitment), compromiso institucional (institutional commitment). Common collocations include "compromiso de confidencialidad" (confidentiality obligation) and "cumplir un compromiso" (to fulfill a commitment).