Polish

A language of Poland

ISO 639-3

pol

Alternate Names

Polnisch

Autonym

język polski‎

Population

37,400,000 (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 40,895,370 (as L1: 40,441,370; as L2: 454,000).

Location

Widespread. Warmian-Masurian province (Masurian dialect).

Language Maps

Ukraine

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1997, Constitution, Article 27).

Classification

Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic

Dialects

Upper Silesian, Masurian (Mazurian, Mazurski).

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); no articles; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; aspect; comparatives; 30 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable.

Language Use

Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1561–1965.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Polish

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Czechia

Language namePolish

Population

33,600 (2011 census).

Location

Moravia-Silesia region: Frydek-Mistek district.

Alternate Names

Polština

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2).

Other Comments

Christian.

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Germany

Language namePolish

Population

741,000 (2015 census).

Location

Sachsen and Brandenburg states: Silesia area; Nordrhein-Westfalen state: Ruhr area.

Alternate Names

Polnisch

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Hungary

Language namePolish

Population

3,050 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,730 (2011 census).

Location

Budapest and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén counties.

Alternate Names

Lengyel

Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Also use Hungarian [hun]. Probably all L1 speakers.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Israel

Language namePolish

Population

100,000 (1992 H. Mutzafi). Ethnic population: 272,000.

Location

HaDarom district: ’Afula; HaZafon district: Nahalal area.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Hebrew [heb].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Jewish.

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Lithuania

Language namePolish

Population

615,000 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 161,000 (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 454,000 (European Commission 2006).

Alternate Names

Lenku

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Lithuanian [lit].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romania

Language namePolish

Population

2,080 (2014 UNSD).

Location

Suceava department.

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2007, National Minority Status Law, Article 3(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Russian Federation

Language namePolish

Population

67,400 (2010 census).

Location

Rostovskaya Oblast’ (Masurian dialect).

Dialects

Masurian (Mazurian, Mazurski).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Slovakia

Language namePolish

Population

3,120 (2013 UNSD).

Location

Zilinsku region: border area north of Zilina.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Christian.

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Ukraine

Language namePolish

Population

144,000 (2001 census).

Location

L’vivs’ka oblast’: 3 small interior enclaves.

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language.

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Ethnologue

Polish

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A language of Poland

Also spoken in:

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