pewne

Pewne is a Polish adjective meaning "certain" or "particular." It is used to indicate that the noun it modifies refers to a definite subset within a larger group, without specifying exactly which members. The word can also convey the sense of "some" in contexts like "pewne dni" (some days) or "pewne miejsca" (certain places).

Morphology and agreement: The base form is pewny, used for masculine singular. The feminine singular form is pewna, and the neuter singular (and common plural forms for feminine and neuter nouns) is pewne. In masculine personal plural, the form is pewni. In everyday usage, pewne frequently appears before feminine plural or neuter nouns, for example pewne osoby (certain people) and pewne miejsce (a certain place).

Usage notes: Pewne is often contrasted with niepewny or niepewność, which express uncertainty. It can also introduce a non-specific but definite reference in combination with nouns, unlike more indefinite words like jakiś or kilka. The adverb form is pewnie, meaning "certainly" or "probably," which is distinct from the adjective forms.

Examples: Pewne miejsca zostały zajęte przed planowaną inspekcją. Pewne osoby mogłyby skorzystać na nowym programie. Na pewno is used for stronger certainty, while z pewnością intensifies the sense of confidence.

Etymology: Pewne derives from the native Polish adjective pewny, with roots in the broader West Slavic linguistic tradition. It forms part of a family of related forms across genders and numbers used to express certainty or specificity.

Related terms: pewny, pewna, pewne; na pewno; z pewnością.