secreto

Secreto is a word in Spanish that functions as a noun meaning something that is not known or that is kept hidden, as well as an adjective meaning hidden, confidential, or private. As a noun, it generally refers to information or things kept from others, such as a personal secret or confidential data. The masculine form secreto and the feminine form secreta are used when describing nouns, with plural secretos or secretas.

Etymology and usage context: Secreto comes from Latin secretus, from secernere, meaning to separate or set apart. In Spanish, the term has broadened to cover personal, intimate, and official domains where information is meant to be kept away from the public or from certain individuals.

Common usage and phrases: A typical construction is un secreto (a secret). Verbs frequently associated with it include mantener un secreto (to keep a secret), revelar un secreto (to reveal a secret), and guardarse de un secreto (to guard a secret). The expression un secreto a voces describes information that is widely known despite attempts to conceal it. As an adjective, secreto or secreta can modify nouns such as documentos secretos (secret documents) or información secreta (secret information).

Legal, professional, and formal dimensions: In legal and administrative language, secreto is used in phrases like secreto de Estado (state secret), secreto profesional (professional secrecy or confidentiality), secreto de sumario (sealed or confidential records in a proceeding), and secreto bancario (bank secrecy). In everyday speech, it often contrasts with confidencialidad or privado, depending on the degree of secrecy involved.

See also: confidencialidad, secreto de Estado, secreto profesional, secreto de sumario, secreto a voces.