specjalist

Specjalista is a Polish noun that denotes a person who has specialized knowledge or training in a particular field. It describes a professional capable of handling tasks that require specific skills. The masculine form is specjalista, the feminine form is specjalistka. The term is widely used in employment contexts and job titles, for example, specjalista ds. marketingu (marketing specialist) or specjalista ds. obsługi klienta (customer service specialist). The plural forms are specjaliści (masculine) and specjalistki (feminine).

Etymology and usage notes: specjalista is formed from the stem specjal- (special) with the agent-noun suffix -ista, a common pattern in Polish for occupations. This aligns with other profession words such as artysta (artist) or naukowiec (scientist). In standard Polish, the form without the final -a, specjalist, is not ordinarily correct; if encountered, it is typically a nonstandard spelling, typographical error, or an influence from other languages.

Related terms and distinctions: specjalista emphasizes practical specialization and competence within a field, rather than formal recognition of expertise. It is distinct from ekspert, which connotes a higher level of recognized authority in a domain. The adjective specjalistyczny means specialized, and the adverb specjalistycznie describes actions done in a specialized manner.

In other languages, cognates exist (for example, German Spezialist or Russian spetsialist), but Polish uses specjalista as the standard word. The term remains common in professional and official contexts to designate personnel with targeted expertise.

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