niewiadomy

Niewiadomy is a Polish adjective meaning unknown or not yet known. It is used to describe people, objects, or facts whose identity or nature has not been established. The form changes with gender and number: masculine singular niewiadomy, feminine singular niewiadoma, neuter singular niewiadome, and plural niewiadomi (masculine personal) or niewiadome (other genders).

Etymology and related forms derive from the prefix nie- meaning negation and the root tied to knowledge, connected to the word wiadomy (known). The phraseology reflects a negation of recognition or awareness, indicating that something has not been determined or identified.

In usage, niewiadomy commonly appears before a noun, as in niewiadomy mężczyzna (an unknown man) or niewiadoma tożsamość (an unknown identity). It is also used in scientific, journalistic, and everyday language to denote lack of information about a subject. A closely related term is nieznany, which is often the more common synonym for unknown, with nuances related to unfamiliarity rather than lack of information. Niewiadomy can also function in constructions where the identity or nature of a subject remains uncertain, such as in reports or descriptions of unresolved cases.

See also: nieznany; nie wiadomo; wiadomy; niepewny.