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:

Expand All Collapse All

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.

View other languages of Czechia

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.

View other languages of Germany

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.

View other languages of Hungary

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.

View other languages of Israel

Lithuania

Language namePolish

Population

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

Alternate Names

Lenku

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Lithuanian [lit].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Lithuania

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.

View other languages of Romania

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.

View other languages of Russian Federation

Slovakia

Language namePolish

Population

3,120 (2013 UNSD).

Location

Zilinsku region: border area north of Zilina.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Slovakia

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.

View other languages of Ukraine

Ethnologue

Polish

Primary tabs

A language of Poland

Also spoken in:

Browse by

Current Edition

Products

Related Sites

Contact