salatut

Salatut is a Finnish word, most commonly encountered as the plural form of the past participle salattu, meaning "hidden," "secret," or "encrypted." It derives from the verb salata ("to hide, to keep secret") and functions both as an adjective and as a nominalized form in everyday language. The standard Finnish pronunciation is approximately /ˈsɑlɑtut/.

In linguistic terms, salatut is used to describe things that are concealed or protected, from personal information (salatut tiedot, "secret/encrypted data") to abstract concepts (salatut tunteet, "hidden feelings"). In technical contexts it commonly denotes data or communications secured by encryption.

Beyond its literal meaning, salatut has cultural resonance in Finland as shorthand for popular media: the long-running Finnish soap opera Salatut elämät (literally "Secret Lives") is frequently referred to simply as "Salatut" in conversation and press. This usage illustrates how an adjective or participle can become a fixed reference in popular culture.

Grammatically, salatut is the nominative plural form; related forms include salattu (singular nominative), salatun (genitive), and salattuja (partitive plural). The term appears in compounds and idiomatic expressions and remains a common and versatile element of modern Finnish vocabulary.