Polander - n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Pole. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913).
The barrel-organ player (Polander standing with arms folded) 1631.
From: The Complete Etchings of Rembrandt: Reproduced in Original Size.
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With a notable exception of the word "Poland," contemporary
phraseology describing Poland and people from Poland in the English language seems to have numerous negative connotations. The adjective describing people from Poland, for example, is the word: "Polish." People from Poland, especially those who begin to learn English, notoriously pronounce it "polish," which sounds like something you put on your shoes to make them look shiny. A "Pole" on the other hand, when pronounced out of context may mean a "stick." or a vertical structure that supports telephone wires for example. Only after that, one may associate the word with more noble meanings such as: "North Pole" or "magnetic pole." Now, a Polish word to describe the native of Poland: Polak (English spelling: Polack) has been desecrated and is considered derogatory in many of the English language dictionaries. There is an alternative word in English language to "Pole." The word "Polander," however, is not widely used and it often shows as misspelled in electronic sources. The connotation of the "Polander," however, seems to be much more positive according to many of the sources. It is the purpose of this site to propagate the word "Polander" as a substitute for "Pole" to help especially those immigrants who struggle daily with the negative connotations that exist in the English language.Native speakers of English, may as well find the designation helpful when speaking of Poland and its people. |
Famous Polanders:Frederic Chopin |
Nicolaus CopernicusAstronomer 1473-1543
Described as Polander in: Dublin Philosophical Journal and Scientific Review, Volume 1, March 1825 |
Tadeusz KosciuszkoBrigadier General 1746-1817
Described as Polander in: Foreign-Born American Patriots: Sixteen Volunteer Leaders in the Revolutionary War, 2014 |