शपथ (shapath)

noun A formal noun meaning 'oath' or 'vow' -- the word you meet in legal, official, and constitutional contexts (like taking an oath of office), and also in the everyday idiom of swearing on someone's name.
Sense 1 : oath, vow (formal/legal)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: कसम (kasam, everyday word), प्रतिज्ञा (pratigyaa, more like 'pledge/vow')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you'll hear on the news every time a new minister is sworn in -- शपथ ग्रहण समारोह (shapath grahan samaaroh, 'oath-taking ceremony') is a fixture of Indian political life. In daily speech, though, Delhi folks reach for the more intimate कसम (kasam) -- 'मेरी कसम' (merii kasam, 'swear on me') -- rather than शपथ (shapath), which stays reserved for courtrooms, constitutions, and podiums.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for कसम (kasam) in every context, but शपथ (shapath) is the word used in formal, legal, and constitutional settings -- शपथ लेना (shapath lenaa, 'to take an oath') is what a minister or witness does, not what a friend does in a casual promise. 2) The verb that pairs with it is लेना (lenaa) 'to take' (शपथ लेना, shapath lenaa) or दिलाना (dilaanaa) 'to administer/make someone take' (शपथ दिलाना, shapath dilaanaa) -- mixing these up is a common slip.
Sample Sentences:
नए मुख्यमंत्री ने आज सुबह शपथ ली। The new chief minister took the oath this morning.
(nae mukhymantrii ne aaj subah shapath lii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
राष्ट्रपति भवन में शपथ ग्रहण समारोह कल आयोजित किया जाएगा। The oath-taking ceremony will be held at the President's House tomorrow.
(raashtrapti bhavan men shapath grahan samaaroh kal aayojit kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
गवाह को अदालत में शपथ लेनी होती है कि वह सच बोलेगा। A witness has to take an oath in court that he will speak the truth.
(gavaah ko adaalat men shapath lenii hotii hai ki vah sach bolegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया शपथ लीजिए और अपना बयान शुरू कीजिए। Please take the oath and begin your statement.
(kripyaa shapath liijie aur apnaa bayaan shuroo kiijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह झूठी शपथ लेता तो उसे जेल हो सकती थी। If he had taken a false oath, he could have gone to jail.
(agar vah jhoothii shapath letaa to use jel ho saktii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
संविधान की शपथ लेते समय हर सांसद को गंभीर रहना चाहिए। Every member of parliament should remain serious while taking the oath of the constitution.
(sanvidhaan kii shapath lete samay har saansad ko gambhiir rahnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मंत्री पद की शपथ दिलाई जा रही है। The oath of the ministerial post is being administered.
(mantrii pad kii shapath dilaaii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
जज ने उसे शपथ दिलाई कि वह पूरा सच बताएगा। The judge administered the oath to him that he would tell the whole truth.
(jaj ne use shapath dilaaii ki vah pooraa sach bataaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
नए न्यायाधीशों ने पद और गोपनीयता की शपथ ली। The new judges took the oath of office and secrecy.
(nae nyaayaadhiishon ne pad aur gopniiytaa kii shapath lii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आप जानते हैं कि शपथ लेने के बाद पद छोड़ना कानूनन कितना मुश्किल है? Do you know how legally difficult it is to leave the post after taking the oath?
(kyaa aap jaante hain ki shapath lene ke baad pad chhodnaa kaanoonan kitnaa mushkil hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): शपथ (shapath)
(sg.f.oblique): शपथ (shapath)
(pl.f.direct): शपथें (shapthen)
(pl.f.oblique): शपथों (shapthon)