Tajny

Tajny is a Polish adjective meaning secret or not publicly disclosed. It is applied to information, documents, activities, and plans whose access is restricted to authorized persons. In everyday use, something described as tajny is intended to be kept away from public knowledge or unauthorized disclosure.

Etymology and forms: Tajny derives from tajemnica, the noun for "secret." The word appears in grammatical gender forms: tajny (masculine), tajna (feminine), tajne (neuter or plural). Related nouns include tajność, referring to the quality of secrecy, and tajemnica, the secret itself.

Classification and context: In Polish law and public administration there are formal secrecy levels such as tajny and ściśle tajny (top secret), with poufny used for confidential information. Access to material classified as tajny requires specific clearance and a defined need to know. Breaches are subject to penalties under applicable statutes. The classification system aims to balance national security with the legitimate use of information in governance and defense.

Usage note: Tajny also appears in everyday language to describe private matters or conversations intended to be kept confidential, e.g., tajny plan or tajne rozmowy. The term is distinct from sekretny or sekret, which can have different nuances; sekretny is less common in official classification, while sekret often refers to a personal secret rather than formal security levels.