obiecaj

Obiecaj is a Polish verb form, the imperativus singular of obiecać, meaning to promise. It is used to urge or command someone to make a promise. In everyday speech it appears in requests, warnings, and emphatic statements, and it can carry varying tonal weights from casual to strong.

The verb obiecać belongs to the standard Polish verb system and forms the imperative as obiecaj (you, singular) and obiecajcie (you, plural). Its present tense forms include obiecuję (I promise), obiecujesz (you promise), obiecuje (he/she promises), obiecujemy, obiecujecie, obiecują. Past forms are obiecałem/obiecałam (I promised), obiecałeś/obiecałaś (you promised), obiecaliśmy, obiecaliście, obiecali (they promised). The participle obiecany means “promised,” and related noun is obietnica, meaning “a promise.”

Usage and meaning: obiecaj conveys the act of making a commitment to do or provide something. It often appears with subordinate clauses such as “że…” (that…), as in Obiecaj mi, że przyjdziesz. It is closely linked to phrases about keeping or breaking promises, for example dotrzymać obietnicy (to keep a promise) and złamać obietnicę (to break a promise). In political and public discourse, terms like obietnice wyborcze (campaign promises) are common.

Notes: while obiecaj primarily denotes promising, the reception of the promise depends on fulfillment. A fulfilled promise strengthens trust, whereas a broken one can damage credibility.