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I often hear in Russian an expression that I suppose can be translated as "I swear it", or "I give you my word". I hear something as "часно слово", "час на слово" ?

What is its right spelling and what does it exactly mean?

Remark: I cannot find it in lingvo, wikipedia, gramota nor by translation, even trying with combinations of possible spelling mistakes (exchanging ч by ш, the о's by a's, итд.)

Edit: of course, my ear can just be unmature to hear Russian and detect all possible spellings .

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It is actually [моё] честное слово, which can be translated as an honest word [of mine]. Phrase давать честное слово is interchangeable with обещать (to promise).

There is also a word клясться, but this is more close to to vow: it is somewhat stronger than making a promise.

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    Честное слово! is Upon my word!, честное слово is the word of honor - that's a better way to say that in English.
    – Yellow Sky
    Commented Apr 8, 2013 at 14:37
  • @YellowSky, sure, I've just provided literate translation.
    – shabunc
    Commented Apr 8, 2013 at 14:47
  • I don't know how to fix the question so that it can be useful for more people. Any ideas?
    – c.p.
    Commented Apr 8, 2013 at 19:53
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    @c.p. don't worry, I do believe that this question is appropriate here and, therefore, is useful :)
    – shabunc
    Commented Apr 8, 2013 at 21:16

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