Polack

See also: polack and pólack

English

Alternative forms

• Polak, Pollack, Pollock, Polock

Etymology

From Polish Polak (“a Polish person”). Cognate to French Polak, and akin to Swedish polack.

Pronunciation

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊlɑk/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpəʊlæk/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Homophone: polac

Noun

Polack (plural Polacks)

1. (now Canada, US offensive slang) A Pole, or person of Polish descent.
2. (obsolete) Formerly in non-offensive use.
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet

     which to him appear'd / to be a preparation against the Polack. - Act II, Scene ii, line 63

     So levied as before against the Pollack. - Act II, Scene ii, line 75

     Why, then the Polack never will defend it. - Act IV, Scene iv, line 23

   • 1610, Thomas Middleton, “Sir R. Sherley Sent Ambassador, etc.”, in Arthur Henry Bullen, editor, The Works of Thomas Middleton, volume VIII, published 1886, page 307:

     First therefore was he employed into Poland, where by Sigismund, the king of Poland and of Suecia, he was received with great magnificence and applause both of the Polack himself and of his people.

Usage notes

• The term Polack was used neutrally through the late nineteenth century, but is today considered an ethnic slur in North America. The Polish still refer to themselves by this term, and other countries do not attach an offensive connotation.

Synonyms

• (person of Polish descent): Pole, Polish person

Translations

derogatory: Polish person

• Czech: Pšonek (cs) m
• Finnish: polakki (fi)
• French: Polak (fr)
• German: Polacke (de) m

• Polish: polaczek (pl) m
• Russian: пшек (ru) m (pšek), пше́чка f (pšéčka), лях (ru) (ljax)

archaic: Polish person

• Finnish: polakki (fi)

• Romanian: leah (ro) m

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• German: ^{(please verify)} Polack m, ^{(please verify)} Polacke (de) m

Proper noun

Polack

1. An anglicized Polish surname, from Polak (“Pole”).

See also

• palooka

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔ.lak/

Noun

Polack m (plural Polacks)

1. Alternative spelling of Polak (Polack, person of Polish descent)

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Hunsrik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p(ʰ)oˈlak/

Noun

Polack m (plural Polacke)

1. Pole, Polack

Further reading

• Online Hunsrik Dictionary