Swear

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The Word “Swear”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “swear” is a versatile term in the English language, with multiple meanings and uses. It can refer to the act of taking an oath, using offensive or vulgar language, or making a promise. This article will explore the different meanings of “swear”, its usage in various contexts, and its translations across 30 languages, providing examples of how it is used in different cultures.

Meaning and Usage of “Swear”

  1. To Make a Promise or Oath One of the most common meanings of “swear” is to make a solemn promise or take an oath. This is often done in formal or serious contexts, such as during a ceremony or before a legal proceeding.
    • Example: “He swore to tell the truth in court.”
      (Here, “swear” refers to making a formal promise to tell the truth.)
  2. Using Offensive Language “Swear” is also commonly used to describe the act of using vulgar or offensive language, often considered impolite or inappropriate in formal or public settings.
    • Example: “She swore loudly after hitting her finger with the hammer.”
      (In this case, “swear” refers to using profane or offensive words.)
  3. To Express Strong Emotion “Swear” can be used to express strong feelings, such as anger, frustration, or determination. It often involves using strong language to emphasize the emotion being felt.
    • Example: “I swear, if you do that again, I’ll be really angry!”
      (Here, “swear” is used to emphasize a strong emotional reaction, often linked to anger.)
  4. To Pledge or Commit to Something In some contexts, “swear” is used to indicate a commitment to do something, often in a way that emphasizes the seriousness or sincerity of the intention.
    • Example: “I swear I’ll get this done by tomorrow!”
      (In this example, “swear” is used to indicate a serious commitment to complete the task.)
  5. To Make a Vow “Swear” can also refer to making a vow, especially in the context of personal promises or vows in relationships, friendships, or other personal commitments.
    • Example: “They swore to be best friends forever.”
      (Here, “swear” refers to a vow to maintain a friendship.)
  6. To Curse or Use Profanity (Cultural Contexts) In some cultures, “swearing” or using profanities is seen as taboo or offensive. However, in others, swearing may be more socially accepted or even seen as a way to express humor or intensity in conversation.
    • Example: “His habit of swearing makes him unpopular in polite society.”
      (In this case, “swear” refers to using rude or inappropriate language.)

Translations of the Word “Swear” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing how the word “swear” is translated into 30 different languages, along with example sentences in each language.

Language Translation Example Sentence (in the target language) English Translation of Example
English Swear “He swore to tell the truth in court.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Spanish Jurar “Él juró decir la verdad en el juicio.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
French Jurer “Il a juré de dire la vérité au tribunal.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
German Schwören “Er schwor, die Wahrheit vor Gericht zu sagen.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Italian Giurare “Ha giurato di dire la verità in tribunale.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Portuguese Jurar “Ele jurou dizer a verdade no tribunal.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Russian Клясться (Klyat’sya) “Он поклялся говорить правду в суде.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Chinese (Simplified) 发誓 (Fāshì) “他在法庭上发誓说真话。” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Japanese 誓う (Chikai) “彼は法廷で真実を言うと誓いました。” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Korean 맹세하다 (Maengsehada) “그는 법정에서 진실을 말할 것이라고 맹세했다.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Hindi कसम (Kasam) “उसने अदालत में सच बोलने की कसम खाई।” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Bengali শপথ (Shôpôth) “সে আদালতে সত্য বলার শপথ নিয়েছিল।” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Urdu قسم (Qasam) “اس نے عدالت میں سچ بولنے کی قسم کھائی۔” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Turkish Yemin etmek “Mahkemede doğruyu söyleyeceğine yemin etti.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Dutch Zweren “Hij zwoer de waarheid te spreken in de rechtbank.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Greek Ορκίζομαι (Orkízomai) “Ορκίστηκε να πει την αλήθεια στο δικαστήριο.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Swedish Svär “Han svor att säga sanningen i rätten.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Danish Sværge “Han svor at sige sandheden i retten.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Finnish Vannoa “Hän vannoi kertovansa totuuden oikeudessa.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Norwegian Sverge “Han sverget å si sannheten i retten.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Polish Przysiąc “On przysiągł mówić prawdę w sądzie.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Czech Přísahat “Přísahal, že bude říkat pravdu u soudu.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Hungarian Esküdni “Esküdött, hogy igazat mond a bíróságon.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Hebrew נשבע (Nishba) “הוא נשבע לומר את האמת בבית המשפט.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Thai สาบาน (Sàbâan) “เขาสาบานที่จะพูดความจริงในศาล.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Vietnamese Thề “Anh ấy thề sẽ nói sự thật tại tòa.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Indonesian Bersumpah “Dia bersumpah untuk mengatakan yang sebenarnya di pengadilan.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Filipino Sumumpa “Sumumpa siya na magsasabi ng totoo sa korte.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Malay Bersumpah “Dia bersumpah untuk mengatakan yang benar di mahkamah.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Swahili Apa “Aliapa kusema ukweli mahakamani.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)
Arabic أقسم (Aqsam) “لقد أقسم أن يقول الحقيقة في المحكمة.” (He swore to tell the truth in court.)

The word “swear” is versatile and holds various meanings in the English language. It can refer to taking an oath, using offensive language, making a promise, or expressing strong emotions. As shown by its translations across 30 different languages, the concept of swearing is understood universally, though the specific uses and connotations can differ greatly depending on cultural context. Whether it’s a promise, a curse, or a vow, the act of swearing is deeply rooted in communication across the globe.

 

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