To keep a promise

[Pamela Kingfisher]

Garder un secret
?
Keep ones word
is another way to say this..... how is it said in French?
tenir la promesse
?
Or....
Thanks, Pam

[Frank]

Hi Pam,

Almost: Tenir une promesse or (to keep his promise) Tenir sa promesse.

And when you make the promise: Faire la promesse de... (or just use the "promettre" verb).

[Frank]

Here's a couple of examples:

Elle a fait la promesse de ne plus boire de Diet Pepsi.
Elle a promis de ne plus boire de Diet Pepsi.
Elle a tenu une promesse, mais on ne sait pas laquelle.
Elle n'a pas tenu sa promesse de ne plus boire de Diet Pepsi.
Elle promet de ne pas en boire plus de 20 litres par jour.
Mais de toutes façons elle ne sait pas tenir une promesse.

[Neil Coffey]

N.B. With the same idea of keep one's word, the expression garder sa parole also exists in French.

[Frank]

Hi Neil,

Oh indeed, I forgot that one, thanks for mentioning that "parole" was also a promise.

But Tenir (sa) parole is probably much more common than garder sa parole which is more religious.

[Neil Coffey]

Sorry, yes agreed!

[Pamela Kingfisher]

Thank you Frank and Neil!! Merci.

So garder sa parole is like swearing before God?
And indeed I am drinking a diet pepsi as I read this.
Je n'ai jamais tenu une promesse de ne pas boire de Diet Pepsi! Jamais de la vie!!
(Morte de rire)
Pam