פּוילישער

Yiddish

Etymology

Clipping of פּוילישער ייִד (poylisher yid), with the feminine פּוילישע (poylishe) formed by back-formation.

Noun

פּוילישער • (poylisher) m, plural פּוילישע (poylishe), feminine פּוילישע (poylishe)

1. Polish Jew

Usage notes

• Yiddish rigorously distinguishes between Jews and non-Jews in national terminology. A Polish non-Jew is not a poylisher, but rather a פּאָליאַק (polyak).
• This noun declines in much the same way as the adjective פּויליש, but without the separate predicate form. For example, the dative and accusative singular are פּוילישן (poylishn).