I give you my word vs Swear

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

I give you my word

Top 2,000 (common)

Swear

Informal Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Most formal: I give you my word

	I give you my word	Swear
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //aɪ ɡɪv jʊ maɪ wɜːd// 🇺🇸 //aɪ ɡɪv jʊ maɪ wɜrd//	🇬🇧 /["/sweə(r)/","/sweəz/","/swɔː(r)/","/swɔːn/","/ˈsweərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/swer/","/swerz/","/swɔːr/","/swɔːrn/","/ˈswerɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	I promise or assure you something.	To use rude or offensive words.
Example	I give you my word that I will finish the project on time.	I swear to tell the truth in my testimony.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B2
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	give you my word, keep my word, my word is my bond, words of assurance, promise my word	loudly, quietly, silently, hear somebody, at, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence, solemnly, on oath, under oath, be prepared to, make somebody, by, on, to, be sworn into office, swear somebody to secrecy, swear somebody to silence
Antonyms	-	praise, compliment
Common mistakes	Confused with 'I'll give you my word' - not always necessary to use 'I'll'., Thinking it only means a literal word rather than a promise., Using it in overly formal contexts where simpler phrases are better.	Confusing 'swear' with 'promise' — they have different meanings., Using it in formal writing where it's not acceptable., Using 'swear to' instead of 'swear at' when expressing anger.
Usage notes	Use when you want to make a sincere promise. It can be informal in casual contexts but appropriate in serious situations too.	Used in informal settings to express anger or frustration. Often considered inappropriate in formal contexts. Be cautious of the audience and setting before using.

See it in real clips

I give you my word.

I give you my word

I swear. All the guineas are buying it, huh?

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

- I swear. - I swear.

I swear. All the guineas are buying it, huh?

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

- I swear. - I swear.

Swear

Frequently asked questions: I give you my word vs Swear

What's the difference between I give you my word and Swear?

I give you my word: I promise or assure you something. Swear: To use rude or offensive words.

Which is more formal: I give you my word and Swear?

I give you my word is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

I give you my word: I give you my word that I will finish the project on time. Swear: I swear to tell the truth in my testimony.

Can I use I give you my word and Swear interchangeably?

Not always. I give you my word and Swear 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.