The noun Polack (p?'l?k', -l?k') used in the English language is a derogatory reference to a person of Polish descent^[1] and an onomatopoeia imitating the sound of the Polish language word Polak (spelled without the "c"), which, in the Polish language, means a Polish male person (feminine being Polka). The noun "Polack" spelled with the "c" however, does not exist in the Polish language.

According to Online Etymology Dictionary by Douglas Harper, "Polack" meant as "Polish immigrant, person of Polish descent" was used in American English until the late 19th century (1879) to describe a "Polish person" in a non-offensive way (1574). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) based on the Unabridged Dictionary by Random House claims that the word originated between 1590?1600.

Today, in the English-speaking world, the word "Polack" is an ethnic slur:

1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
2. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a person of Polish birth or descent (The American HeritageŽ Dictionary)

The only acceptable English language alternative to the term "Polish person" today is Pole (see also: Naming Poland in foreign languages). Nevertheless, in some other languages such as Swedish or Norwegian e.g., Polack or Polakk is an acceptable expression for a person from Poland.^[2]

References

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