• Listen

  What it means

  Meaning ‘in private’ or ‘alone, away from others,’ this phrase describes a situation where two (or more) people are by themselves, apart from a group. It implies a degree of intimacy or confidentiality — a conversation held ’na osobności’ is meant for those present only. Poles use it when someone wants to speak to another person away from the crowd: ‘Czy możemy porozmawiać na osobności?’ (Can we speak privately?).

  Vocabulary

  • osobność — privacy, seclusion (archaic/formal noun)
  • na — in, at (preposition)
  • na osobności — in private, alone

  Grammar note

  'Osobność' is an archaic feminine noun in the locative case after 'na' (which here takes the locative, indicating state rather than direction). The phrase functions as an adverbial of place/manner. It is a fixed expression; you would never say 'w osobności' or inflect it differently.

  Cultural context

  The phrase has a slightly formal or literary flavour compared to the more colloquial 'sam na sam' (one on one). It is used in both spoken and written Polish across contexts, but is particularly common in formal or polite requests for a private word. Comparable to English 'in private' or 'aside.'

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!