lACh

Lach is a term with several distinct meanings in different languages and historical contexts. In Dutch, lach is the first-person singular present tense of the verb lachen, meaning I laugh. It is part of a broader verb family whose other forms include lacht (he/she laughs) and lachen (to laugh).

Lach is also a surname occurring in German-speaking countries and in communities influenced by German-language naming traditions. As a family name, it may be found among people in Austria, Germany, and parts of Central Europe, among others.

In East Slavic and some Polish contexts, Lach (or Lakh, Lachy) is an archaic ethnonym referring to Western Slavs, particularly Poles. The term appears in historical texts and in some modern-language uses as a designation for Poles or West Slavic groups, though it is largely literary or historical and not used in contemporary self-designation.

The word thus has overlapping senses across languages, with the meaning determined by grammatical form and locale. When encountered, the surrounding context usually clarifies whether it refers to the Dutch verb, a surname, or an ethnonym.