Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sekret | /ˈsɛ.krɛt/ | inanimate, masculine |
| tajemnica | /ta.jɛmˈɲi.t͡sa/ | feminine |
The noun refers to knowledge that is hidden. To express the action of 'keeping a secret,' Polish speakers frequently use the phrase trzymać w tajemnicy, which literally means 'to hold in secrecy'.
Which one should you use?
While sekret refers to information one keeps hidden, it is often used for personal or interpersonal secrets. In contrast, tajemnica is the more general, standard Polish word for a secret and can also mean a 'mystery'. When using adjectives, tajny is typically used for official or state secrets, such as classified documents, while sekretny is used for things like a 'secret ingredient' or a 'secret mission'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word sekret is pronounced /ˈsɛ.krɛt/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While sekret sounds like the English word, it is less common than tajemnica in everyday speech. A native speaker will almost always prefer tajemnica when talking about a hidden truth.
- The word tajemnica is used in the legal term tajemnica zawodowa, which refers to 'professional secrecy' or 'privileged information' for doctors and lawyers.
- The word tajemnica is built from the root tajemny, which is connected to the ancient Proto-Indo-European root for 'to hide' or 'to cover'.
Examples in context
- To był nasz sekret.It was our secret.This sentence shows how to use the form sekret to describe a past secret.Tatoeba #6688764 by juu_ichi, translation #2648490 by CK
- To będzie nasz sekret.This'll be our secret.This sentence demonstrates using sekret to talk about a future secret.Tatoeba #3421220 by konrad509, translation #2646491 by CK
- Może w tym tkwi sekret.Maybe that's the secret.This sentence illustrates how to refer to a possible secret using sekret.Tatoeba #4869511 by Rudzielec, translation #4494362 by CK
- To jest tajemnicaThis is a secret.
- Nie zdradzaj mojego sekretuDon't reveal my secret.
- Nie mów nikomu, to nasz sekrecikDon't tell anyone, it's our little secret.
- Mam dla ciebie zagadkę – to jest nasz sekretI have a riddle for you – this is our secret.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Krzysztof are talking about a surprise party.
- AgnieszkaCzy to jest twój wielki sekret?Is this your big secret?
- KrzysztofTak, to mój mały sekret.Yes, it is my little secret.
- AgnieszkaObiecuję, że zachowam ten sekret.I promise that I will keep this secret.
- KrzysztofDziękuję ci, Agnieszko.Thank you, Agnieszka.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “secret” translations and entries sekret, tajemnica, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sekret, tajemnica, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
