Murzyn

See also: murzyn

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Czech muřín, from Latin Maurus, from Ancient Greek Μαῦρος (Maûros). Doublet of Maur, morus, and murzyn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmu.ʐɨn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uʐɨn
• Syllabification: Mu‧rzyn
• Homophone: murzyn

Noun

Murzyn m pers (female equivalent Murzynka, related adjective murzyński)

1. (proscribed, now often offensive) black man

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:czarnuch

Usage notes

Traditionally considered neutral and not controversial, the word has come to be considered offensive by some black Polish speakers and thus, its usage is discouraged by them. Others claim otherwise. According to Polish linguists Jerzy Bralczyk and Jan Miodek, it does not have the same negative meaning as nigger does in English. However, as the words "Murzyn" and "murzyn" are capitonyms, and the word "murzyn" is used in some derogatory idioms such as "zdawać egzamin na murzyna," "biały murzyn," and "murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść," all suggesting somebody who is being pushed around or used for somebody else's benefit, some people argue that the word "Murzyn" should also be considered pejorative.

The Polish Language Council advises against the use of this word, arguing that it is dated and has gradually acquired a pejorative meaning due to its derogatory connotations.

Declension

Declension of Murzyn

	singular	plural
nominative	Murzyn	Murzyni/Murzyny (deprecative)
genitive	Murzyna	Murzynów
dative	Murzynowi	Murzynom
accusative	Murzyna	Murzynów
instrumental	Murzynem	Murzynami
locative	Murzynie	Murzynach
vocative	Murzynie	Murzyni

Derived terms

nouns

• murzyn
• murzynek
• Murzynek
• Murzyniątko
• Murzynię
• Murzynisko
• murzynka

 

Related terms

noun

• murzyńskość

 

Further reading

• Murzyn in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• Murzyn in Polish dictionaries at PWN