servanda

Servanda is a Latin neuter plural noun derived from the verb servare, meaning “to keep.” In legal usage it appears most notably in the phrase pacta sunt servanda, which is commonly translated as “agreements must be kept.” The term signals that legal commitments—such as treaties and contracts—are binding on the parties and must be observed.

In international law, pacta sunt servanda is a foundational principle holding that treaties are binding upon the states parties and must be performed in good faith. The principle is codified in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), Article 26: “Every treaty in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them in good faith.” It operates alongside exceptions and qualifications, including jus cogens norms and rules for termination or suspension of treaties in cases of material breach (as provided in other articles of the convention).

In domestic contract law, the term servanda is less commonly used as a standalone concept, but the underlying idea—that obligations arising from agreements must be observed—guides enforcement and interpretation. Courts emphasize good-faith performance, timely and faithful fulfilment of terms, and compliance with applicable statutes and governing principles of fairness.

Etymology: from Latin servare (to keep) and the gerundive servandus (to be kept). The phrase pacta sunt servanda has long been associated with the expectation of reliability in international relations and remains a core rule of treaty enforcement and interpretation.

See also: pacta sunt servanda, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, good faith, treaty, contract.