vaada

Vaada, in Hindi and Urdu, is a noun meaning a promise, pledge, or commitment. The word is used across several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, and Marathi, and is often written as vaada or waada in transliteration. It denotes a commitment undertaken by one person to another or to a group, sometimes binding in a moral or social sense.

Etymology: Vaada is borrowed from Persian and Arabic linguistic traditions, related to words meaning promise or oath (for example, wa'd in Arabic). The term has become deeply integrated into everyday speech in the Indian subcontinent.

Usage: Common phrases include vaada karna (to make a promise), vaada todna (to break a promise), and vaade ki baat (the matter of the promise). The concept also appears in idioms and proverbs emphasizing reliability, trust, and duty. In literature and media, vaada often symbolizes loyalty, faithfulness, or the tension between intent and action.

Cultural context: In many social settings, keeping a promise is considered a sign of integrity, while failing to do so may erode trust. Promises can be personal, professional, or ceremonial, and may be expressed in spoken vows, written commitments, or informal assurances. The term also appears in names of songs, poems, and films in South Asian media, where it typically underscores themes of love, duty, and resilience.

See also: Promise (general concept), oath, vow, pledge.