क़सम (qasam)
noun
Means 'oath, swear, vow' -- almost always encountered in the emotionally loaded phrase of swearing on someone or something dear, rather than in legal contexts.
Sense
1
:
oath, vow, swear (invoking something precious)
noun, feminine Common frame: [thing/person]-की क़सम (kii qasam) meaning 'I swear on ...', e.g. तुम्हारी क़सम (tumhaarii qasam, 'I swear on you'). Also used with खाना (khaanaa) as in क़सम खाना (qasam khaanaa, 'to take/swear an oath').
Synonyms: सौगंध (saugandh, literary), प्रतिज्ञा (pratigyaa, more formal, closer to 'pledge')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Swearing on a loved one is a very Delhi/North Indian way of expressing sincerity or pleading -- तेरी क़सम (terii qasam, 'I swear on you') or मेरी माँ की क़सम (merii maan kii qasam, 'I swear on my mother') carries real emotional weight in an argument or a promise, much more than a neutral 'I swear' does in English. It also shows up constantly in Bollywood dialogue and everyday drama between friends and couples.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to translate 'I swear!' literally with मैं क़सम खाता हूँ (main qasam khaataa hoon) in casual speech, when native speakers usually just say a short exclamation like तेरी क़सम (terii qasam) or भगवान की क़सम (bhagvaan kii qasam) without a full verb. 2) The नुक़्ता (nuqtaa) dot under क is often dropped in casual typing/writing as कसम (kasam) -- both are seen constantly and understood identically.
Sample Sentences:
तेरी क़सम, मैंने यह बात किसी को नहीं बताई।
I swear on you, I haven't told anyone this.
(terii qasam, mainne yah baat kisii ko nahiin bataaii।)
मेरी माँ की क़सम, मैं सच बोल रहा हूँ।
I swear on my mother, I'm telling the truth.
(merii maan kii qasam, main sach bol rahaa hoon।)
उसने क़सम खाई कि वह दोबारा शराब नहीं पिएगा।
He swore an oath that he would never drink alcohol again.
(usne qasam khaaii ki vah dobaaraa sharaab nahiin piegaa।)
क़सम खाओ कि तुम मुझसे कभी झूठ नहीं बोलोगे।
Swear that you will never lie to me.
(qasam khaao ki tum mujhse kabhii jhooth nahiin bologe।)
अगर मैं झूठ बोल रहा होता, तो भगवान की क़सम, मुझे सज़ा मिलती।
If I were lying, I swear to God, I would be punished.
(agar main jhooth bol rahaa hotaa, to bhagvaan kii qasam, mujhe sazaa miltii।)
गवाह से अदालत में क़सम दिलवाई गई कि वह सच बोलेगा।
The witness was made to take an oath in court that he would tell the truth.
(gavaah se adaalat men qasam dilvaaii gaii ki vah sach bolegaa।)
क्या तुम मुझसे यह वादा क़सम खाकर करोगे?
Will you make this promise to me by swearing an oath?
(kyaa tum mujhse yah vaadaa qasam khaakar karoge?)
काश वह अपनी क़सम याद रखता।
If only he had remembered his oath.
(kaash vah apnii qasam yaad rakhtaa।)
नई सरकार बनते ही मंत्रियों को पद की क़सम दिलाई जाती है।
As soon as the new government is formed, the ministers are made to take the oath of office.
(naii sarkaar bante hii mantriyon ko pad kii qasam dilaaii jaatii hai।)
उसने अपनी क़सम तोड़ दी और फिर से जुआ खेलने लगा।
He broke his vow and started gambling again.
(usne apnii qasam tod dii aur phir se juaa khelne lagaa।)
मेरी जान की क़सम, मैं तुम्हें कभी अकेला नहीं छोड़ूँगा।
I swear on my life, I will never leave you alone.
(merii jaan kii qasam, main tumhen kabhii akelaa nahiin chhodoongaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
क़सम
(qasam)
(sg.f.oblique):
क़सम
(qasam)
(pl.f.direct):
क़समें
(qasmen)
(pl.f.oblique):
क़समों
(qasmon)