Hiszpaska

Hiszpaska is a term occasionally encountered in Polish that would refer to a woman from Spain. In standard Polish, the feminine ethnonym is Hiszpanka, while a man from Spain is Hiszpan. The form hiszpaska is not considered part of the normative vocabulary and is generally viewed as nonstandard, dialectal, or likely a misspelling or playful nonce creation rather than a recognized variant.

Etymology and forms. The root of the word is the ethnonym Hiszpan, which denotes a Spanish person. The expected feminine formation in contemporary Polish is Hiszpanka, formed with the common feminine suffix -anka. The nonstandard form hiszpaska may arise from misdivision or misattachment of typical feminine suffixes, but it is not widely accepted in dictionaries or formal writing.

Usage and notes. Because it is not canonical, hiszpaska should be avoided in formal or neutral contexts. If referring to a Spanish woman, standard expressions such as Hiszpanka or the phrase kobieta z Hiszpanii are preferred. In historical or literary texts, readers may encounter a variety of older spellings, but such usage is rare and usually not considered correct in modern Polish.

See also. Hiszpania, Hiszpanka, Hiszpan.