Cool MateI swear on my children vs Vow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I swear on my children
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Vow
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: VowMost common: Vow
| I swear on my children | Vow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ swɛə(r) ɒn maɪ ˈtʃɪldrən//🇺🇸 //aɪ swɛr ɑn maɪ ˈtʃɪldrən// | 🇬🇧 /["/vaʊ/","/vaʊz/","/vaʊd/","/ˈvaʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/vaʊ/","/vaʊz/","/vaʊd/","/ˈvaʊɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | I promise strongly using my children as a reason. | A serious promise to do something. |
| Example | I swear on my children, I will always protect them. | She vowed never to speak to him again. |
| Register | Informal | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | swear on my children, strongly swear, promise with sincerity, vow to protect, emphasize with family | quietly, silently, to, vow never to do something, vow revenge, vow revenge against somebody |
| Antonyms | - | break, violate |
| Common mistakes | Confusion between 'swear on' and 'swear to'., Using in overly formal situations., Incorrectly using with abstract concepts. | Confused with 'cow' — they sound similar but have different meanings., Using in informal contexts — 'vow' is too strong for casual promises. |
| Usage notes | Used in informal contexts to express strong promise or truth, often relates to personal feelings or beliefs. | Use 'vow' when making a serious commitment, often in formal situations like weddings or ceremonies. Avoid in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: I swear on my children vs Vow
What's the difference between I swear on my children and Vow?
I swear on my children: I promise strongly using my children as a reason. Vow: A serious promise to do something.
Which is more formal: I swear on my children and Vow?
Vow is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: I swear on my children and Vow?
Vow is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I swear on my children: I swear on my children, I will always protect them. Vow: She vowed never to speak to him again.
Can I use I swear on my children and Vow interchangeably?
Not always. I swear on my children and Vow are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.