lekarka

Lekarka is a Polish feminine noun that denotes a physician who is a woman. It is the feminine counterpart of lekarz, the general term for a doctor in Polish. The form reflects the gendered noun system of Polish, where many professional titles have distinct masculine and feminine variants. The word derives from the root related to heal and medicine, with the feminine suffix -arka to designate a female practitioner. In everyday usage, lekarka can refer to any woman practicing medicine, including physicians in hospitals, clinics, or private practice.

In formal or respectful address, speakers may use pani doktor (Ms. doctor) or simply doktor when the gender is known but not emphasized; some contexts prefer gender-neutral language, especially in official documents or contemporary media.

The concept of lekarka also appears in other Slavic languages with different forms and spellings; however, the exact term lekarka is specifically Polish, and other languages may use lékařka (Czech), liječnica (Croatian/Serbian/Bosnian), or lekarica (Slovenian) for female physicians.

Historically, medicine has seen increasing participation of women, and the representation of lekarki in Polish medicine has grown alongside education and professional opportunities. Today, lekarka denotes a recognized profession and contributes to the medical workforce across Poland and Polish-speaking communities.