Kluczem

Kluczem is the instrumental singular form of the Polish noun klucz, which means “key” in Polish. The term denotes several related concepts and is widely used in everyday language as well as specialized domains.

The primary senses of klucz include: 1) a physical key, a small metal device used to operate a lock, e.g., “klucz do drzwi”; 2) a cryptographic or security key, such as “klucz szyfrowy,” “klucz publiczny” and “klucz prywatny” used in cryptography; 3) in music, “klucz” means a clef (treble, bass), as in “klucz wiolinowy” or “klucz basowy.”

In grammar, “kluczem” is the instrumental case form used to indicate the instrument with which something is done or as a phrase element: “otworzyłem drzwi kluczem” (I opened the doors with a key), “kluczem do sukcesu” (the key to success). The noun is masculine; standard declined forms include singular: mianownik klucz, dopełniacz klucza, celownik kluczowi, biernik klucz, narzędnik kluczem, miejscownik kluczu; plural: mianownik klucze, dopełniacz kluczy, celownik kluczom, biernik klucze, narzędnik kluczami, miejscownik kluczach.

Etymology traces to the old Slavic root related to words for “key” in other Slavic languages; cognates include Russian ключ (klyuch), Czech klíč, Slovene ključ. Common expressions include “klucz do sukcesu,” “mieć klucz,” and “zgubić klucz.”