demonymi

Demonymi is the Polish term for demonyms, the words used to denote residents or natives of a particular place. In English, the corresponding term is demonym (plural demonyms). A demonym is a noun or adjective that identifies the people who originate from a geographic location, such as Canadian from Canada or Parisian from Paris.

Demonymi, like its English counterpart, is often formed from place names by adding suffixes or by adopting an ethnonym. Common English patterns include -an, -er, -ian, -ese, -ite, and -ish (for example Canadian, Berliner, Japanese, Parisean, Brazilian, English). Some demonyms are irregular or have multiple valid forms depending on context or language tradition. In addition to adjectives, many demonyms function as nouns: a Parisian, a Texan, or a Nigerian.

Ethnonyms and demonyms are related but distinct. An ethnonym refers to an ethnic group or language name (for example Arab, Han Chinese, or Yoruba), while a demonym refers to geographic origin and may or may not align with ethnicity. Some terms function as both, and some demonyms are endonyms (the name used by the people themselves) while others are exonyms (names used by outsiders).

Usage and variation: Demonyms are widely used in geography, sociolinguistics, journalism, and daily speech to describe nationality or regional origin. They can carry connotations or emphasis on identity and are subject to stylistic or political considerations, particularly when questions of autonomy or self-designation arise.

See also: ethnonym, gentilic, toponym.