prometer

Prometer is a verb used in both Spanish and Portuguese with the core meaning to pledge or commit to doing something, i.e., to promise. It is typically used to indicate a future action that someone commits to carry out and is often followed by an infinitive or by a clause introduced by que. The noun form in Spanish is promesa; in Portuguese it is promessa.

Etymology and cognates

The verb derives from Latin promittere, formed from pro- (forward) and mittere (to send). In both languages, prometer is a regular -er verb and shares a close semantic and grammatical profile across varieties of Spanish and Portuguese.

Usage and grammar

In Spanish, prometer is transitive and used with a direct object or with a subsequent infinitive: prometer algo, prometer hacer algo. It has full regular conjugation for -er verbs. Examples: "Prometí llamarla a las ocho." "Él promete estudiar más." "Prometieron cumplir el plazo." The reflexive form prometerse can mean to commit oneself or, in some contexts, to become engaged, as in "ellos se prometieron" (they got engaged).

In Portuguese, prometer is also regular, with standard conjugation patterns for -er verbs. Examples: "Prometi ajudá-lo amanhã." "Ela promete cumprir o prazo." "Eles prometeram estudar mais." Variants exist across dialects, especially in the forms used for the second person singular; most common in Brazil uses você/ele/ela forms.

Related terms and usage notes

The related noun promesa/promessa names the object of the pledge. Common expressions include prometer y cumplir (to promise and to keep), and romper una promesa/prometer quebrar. The verb is commonly contrasted with garantir (to guarantee) and comprometer (to commit, to compromise), which carry slightly different nuances.

See also: promesa, promessa, prometerse, cumplir promesas.