Polish

A language of Poland

Polnisch

język polski‎

36,711,000 in Poland, all users. L1 users: 36,500,000 in Poland (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 211,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 40,629,030 (as L1: 39,964,030; as L2: 665,000).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Czechia

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

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

Taught in all primary and secondary schools. Taught in all tertiary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1561–2018.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Polish

Writing

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

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Argentina

Language NamePolish

User Population

198,000 in Argentina (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Australia

Language NamePolish

User Population

48,100 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Austria

Language NamePolish

User Population

30,600 in Austria (2003 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Azerbaijan

Language NamePolish

User Population

1,000 in Azerbaijan (Leclerc 2017b).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belarus

Language NamePolish

User Population

4,220 in Belarus (2011 census). Most Poles in Belarus speak Belarusan [bel] or Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 295,000 (2009 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belgium

Language NamePolish

User Population

97,200 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Brazil

Language NamePolish

User Population

7,670 in Brazil (2020 Registro Nacional Migratório no Brasil), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NamePolish

User Population

182,000 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Cyprus

Language NamePolish

User Population

2,810 in Cyprus (2013 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Czechia

Language NamePolish

User Population

33,600 in Czechia (2011 census).

Location

Moravia-Silesia region: eastern Frydek-Mistek; Karviná district.

Alternate Names

Polština

Language Status

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

Other Comments

Christian.

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Denmark

Language NamePolish

User Population

41,500 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Finland

Language NamePolish

User Population

5,440 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NamePolish

User Population

867,000 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Location

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

Alternate Names

Polnisch

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Greece

Language NamePolish

User Population

14,100 in Greece (2011 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Hungary

Language NamePolish

User Population

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

Location

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Budapest counties.

Alternate Names

Lengyel

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Iceland

Language NamePolish

User Population

9,110 in Iceland (2008 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ireland

Language NamePolish

User Population

4,030 in Ireland (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Israel

Language NamePolish

User Population

124,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Ethnic population: 272,000.

Location

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

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Hebrew [heb].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Jewish.

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Kazakhstan

Language NamePolish

User Population

3,160 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 34,100 (2009 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Latvia

Language NamePolish

User Population

40,400 in Latvia (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Lithuania

Language NamePolish

User Population

618,000 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 164,000 in Lithuania (2015 census), based on nationality. L2 users: 454,000 (European Commission 2006).

Location

Alytaus, Kauno, Marijampoles, and Vilniaus counties.

Alternate Names

Lenku

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Lithuanian [lit].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Luxembourg

Language NamePolish

User Population

2,140 in Luxembourg (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Netherlands

Language NamePolish

User Population

32,200 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NamePolish

User Population

2,620 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Norway

Language NamePolish

User Population

117,000 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romania

Language NamePolish

User Population

2,080 in Romania (2011 census). Ethnic population: 2,540 (2011 census).

Location

Suceava county.

Language 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

User Population

67,400 in Russian Federation (2010 census).

Location

Rostov province (Masurian dialect).

Dialects

Masurian (Mazurian, Mazurski).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Serbia

Language NamePolish

User Population

29,000 in Serbia (Leclerc 2020c).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Slovakia

Language NamePolish

User Population

3,120 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Spain

Language NamePolish

User Population

51,800 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NamePolish

User Population

53,800 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ukraine

Language NamePolish

User Population

18,700 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 144,000 (2001 census).

Location

Lviv region: 3 small interior enclaves.

Language Status

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

Language Use

Shifting to Ukrainian [ukr].

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United Kingdom

Language NamePolish

User Population

618,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census). England and Wales 546,000, Scotland 54,000, Northern Ireland 18,000.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NamePolish

User Population

580,000 in United States (2015 census).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Includes about 2,000 Polish-speaking Muslim Tatar families, mainly in Brooklyn. Christian, Muslim.

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Uzbekistan

Language NamePolish

User Population

3,300 in Uzbekistan (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Polish

Primary tabs

A language of Poland

Also spoken in:

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