Polscy

Polscy is a Polish adjective meaning "Polish" in the sense of nationality, language, or culture. It is the masculine personal plural form of the adjective polski. In Polish grammar, adjectives inflect for gender, number, and case; thus polski becomes polscy when describing a group of men or a mixed-gender group in the nominative case, as in Polscy naukowcy (Polish scientists) or Polscy żeglarze (Polish sailors).

The corresponding forms for other genders and numbers are polska (feminine singular), polskie (neuter singular and masculine or feminine plural in most contexts). Polscy is therefore used specifically with masculine personal nouns and pronouns, or in contexts where the subject is a mixed or unspecified gender group of Polish origin or affiliation. It should not be used as a standalone noun; the standard noun for people of Poland is Polacy.

Etymology and related forms: polski derives from Polska, the name of the country, with the adjectival suffix -ski, common in Polish demonyms and descriptors. The form polscy reflects standard plural agreement for masculine personal nouns. In contrast, polskie is used for neuter nouns and most non-masculine groups, and polska for feminine singular nouns.

Usage notes: polscy is common in formal, scholarly, and media language when referring to groups identified as Polish. It is one of several nationality adjectives that convey origin or affiliation, distinct from the noun Polacy, which denotes Polish people themselves.

See also: Polish language, Poles, Polish people.