paus

Paus is a term with several uses in European languages. In Dutch and Afrikaans, paus is the common noun for the Pope, the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. It appears in religious writing, journalism, and everyday language to refer to the papal office.

Etymology and related forms: The Dutch and Afrikaans paus derives from the Latin papa, reflecting the traditional designation for the pope. The form shows how the papal title was integrated into these languages, with cognate terms appearing in other languages that borrowed the concept of the papacy, though spellings and pronunciations vary.

Other uses: Paus is also a surname found in various European countries. As a family name, it may have patronymic or toponymic origins, and bearers appear in historical records as well as in contemporary contexts. The surname is independent of the religious meaning of the word and is encountered outside of clerical references.

Usage note: The lowercase noun paus in Dutch and Afrikaans is distinct from the English word pause, which has a different etymology and usage. In multilingual texts, the meaning of paus should be inferred from context to avoid confusion between the papal term and other senses of similar-sounding words in related languages.