bajka

Bajka is a short narrative form in Polish literature, typically translated as fairy tale. It is primarily a children's genre but may also be aimed at a general audience. A bajka usually features magical or extraordinary elements, such as talking animals, magical objects, or improbable events, and it relies on a clear plot and a recognizable moral or lesson.

In Polish tradition, bajka is distinguished from baśń, which often denotes a longer, more epic or mythic tale with less emphasis on didactic end. Bajki tend to be concise, humorous or satirical, and frequently use anthropomorphic animals to critique human behavior or social norms.

The form has roots in oral storytelling and was codified in written literature in the modern era. Notable collections include Ignacy Krasicki's Bajki, a cornerstone of Polish fables published in the late 18th century; Stanisław Jachowicz's children's verses and fables; later authors contributed to children's literature and satirical fables. The bajka has influenced Polish cartoons and animated films, as well as school textbooks.

In contemporary use, bajka remains a common term for short fairy tales and fables, both in literature and media, and can be used more broadly to describe a fanciful or unbelievable story in everyday speech, sometimes with a humorous or pejorative sense of exaggeration.