Katholicka

Katholicka is a Polish adjective meaning "Catholic," used to describe feminine nouns. The standard spelling in Polish is katolicka; katholicka is generally regarded as nonstandard or a misspelling. The word derives from Latin catholicus, via Late Latin, itself from Greek katholikos, meaning universal. The term shares its root with the broader concept of Catholicism and with the name of the Roman Catholic Church in Polish.

In usage, katolicka inflects for gender and number: masculine katolicki, feminine katolicka, neuter katolickie, with corresponding plural forms. It can describe people, institutions, beliefs, and practices related to Catholicism. Examples include osobo katolicka (a Catholic person), szkoła katolicka (Catholic school), doktryna katolicka (Catholic doctrine), and kościół katolicki (Catholic Church). When referring to the church by its proper name, the institution is typically capitalized as Kościół Katolicki.

As a noun, Polish also uses katolik for a Catholic person, with katoliczka as a feminine form. These noun forms are distinct from the adjective but share the same root.

Overview: katolicka denotes femininity in descriptive use and forms part of a widespread family of denominational adjectives in Polish. Its historical background ties to the concept of universality in early Christian usage, while its contemporary function is primarily as a descriptor within Polish language about Catholicism and related institutions.