lupaus

Lupaus is a Finnish noun meaning a promise or pledge. It denotes a commitment by a person to perform or refrain from a future action. The word is derived from the verb luvata (to promise) and is formed with the common nominalizing suffix -us. The basic inflections include lupaukset (plural) and lupauksen (genitive).

In usage, lupaus covers both informal personal commitments and more formal or public pledges, such as written agreements or political commitments. Common verb phrases include pitää lupaus (to keep a promise), antaa lupaus (to make a promise), and rikkoa lupaus (to break a promise). In political discourse, vaalulupaukset refers to campaign promises.

Legal and cultural context: lupaus is not a formal legal term in contract law; for legal obligations Finnish speakers would typically use sopimus (agreement) or, when referring to permissions, lupa. Nevertheless, lupaus is widely used in everyday speech and media to discuss trust, accountability, and reliability, including in political and personal contexts.

Etymology and related forms: the word is linked to the verb luvata and uses the suffix -us to form a noun signifying an act or outcome. The standard plural form is lupaukset, and the genitive singular is lupauksen. Related terms in Finnish include phrases like kirjallinen lupaus (a written promise) and vaalilupaukset (campaign promises). Cognates exist in related languages, such as Swedish löfte and Estonian lubadus, reflecting a shared concept across the region.