promettere

Promettere is an Italian verb meaning to promise or pledge that one will do something or provide something in the future. It is a transitive verb and can take a direct object (promettere qualcosa) or an infinitive clause (promettere di fare qualcosa).

Etymology and forms: The verb comes from Latin promittere (pro- “forward” + mittere “to send”). In Italian it is conjugated as a regular -ere verb, with present tense forms such as io prometto, tu prometti, lui promette, noi promettiamo, voi promettete, loro promettono. The past participle is promesso, used with avere to form compound tenses (ho promesso, hai promesso, ha promesso, etc.). The gerund is promettendo and the infinitive is promettere.

Usage: Promettere is commonly followed by di + infinitive to express the intention to do something (promettere di fare qualcosa). It can also govern a direct object when promising something to someone (promettere qualcosa a qualcuno). A frequent collocation is tenere una promessa, meaning to keep a promise, which is often contrasted with failing to fulfill it.

Notes: In everyday language the verb conveys both a commitment and a sense of reliability, depending on context. In formal or contractual contexts it may appear in various tenses to express future obligations or assurances. Related terms include promesse (n. “promise”), promissorio (promissory), and synonyms such as assicurare or garantire, used to convey similar notions of assurance.