حتماً

The pair شاید (shâyad, "maybe") and حتماً (hatman, "definitely") frame the two ends of Iranian commitment. Most plans live in shâyad territory. The ones that move into hatman are either real, or are dressed in hatman to honor the social contract. Foreigners often take hatman literally and feel betrayed when the meeting does not happen. Native speakers know to read the temperature of the conversation, the relationship, and the calendar before counting on it.