wnuki

Wnuki is the Polish word for grandchildren—the children of one's children. The term covers both male and female grandchildren in common usage; gender-specific forms are wnuk for a male grandchild and wnuczka for a female grandchild. In plural, wnuki commonly refers to grandchildren as a group or to male grandchildren; for female grandchildren, wnuczki is used. In everyday language, wnuki may be used inclusively to refer to all grandchildren regardless of gender.

Etymology: Wnuk derives from the Polish root for descendant and has cognates throughout the Slavic languages, including Russian vnuk, Ukrainian vnuk, and Czech vnuk. These forms trace to a common Proto-Slavic root.

Cultural context: Grandchildren play a central role in many Polish families, often maintaining close ties with grandparents. Grandparents may participate in childcare, share family history, pass down traditions, and contribute to intergenerational bonding. Across Poland and other Slavic countries, demographic changes such as longer life expectancy and migration influence the way families structure and how grandparents participate in daily life.

Usage: The term is used across formal and informal contexts, in education, media, and literature, to refer to people’s grandchildren.

See also: Grandparent, Family, Ancestry.