polak

See also: Polak, polák, Polák, and Pólak

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from Polish Polak.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): [pʰoˈlɑɡ̊]

Noun

polak c (singular definite polakken, plural indefinite polakker)

1. Pole

Inflection

Declension of polak

gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	polak	polakken	polakker	polakkerne
genitive	polaks	polakkens	polakkers	polakkernes

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Polish Polak.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔ.lak/

• Audio (France (Vosges)):

  (file)

Noun

polak

1. (slang) a Polish person
   • 1945, Maurice Thaï, Le Camp de la mort lente, page 281:

     Je suis certain qu’à la réception de cette lettre vous allez vous dire : en voilà encore « un polak ».

     I am certain that upon receiving this letter, you are going to say to yourself, "Here's another Polak."

Usage notes

The form polak - with a lowercase 'p' - is prevalent on the internet but proscribed in more formal writing, where Polak is preferred. This is in line with the French practice of capitalising nationalities used as a noun.

Variants

• polaque, Polak

Polish

Etymology

Ellipsis of (język) pol(ski) or produkt pol(ski) + -ak.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɔ.lak/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔlak
• Syllabification: po‧lak
• Homophone: Polak

Noun

polak m inan

1. (education, school slang) Polish language (school subject)
2. (education, school slang) Polish language class
3. (colloquial, slang) amphetamine

Declension

Declension of polak

	singular	plural
nominative	polak	polaki
genitive	polaka	polaków
dative	polakowi	polakom
accusative	polak	polaki
instrumental	polakiem	polakami
locative	polaku	polakach
vocative	polaku	polaki

Further reading

• “polak”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[1] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “polak”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[2] (in Polish)