Polactwo

Meaning:

The word is a neologism hence very hard to find a proper translation. It is either a noun or an adjective expressing contempt for at least a part of Polish society or nation or their characteristic traits.

You could translate it as “polackness”. The neutral word for it would be “polskość” (a person or thing being Polish) while the “polactwo” sounds very similar to “robactwo” (vermin) and sounds repulsive.

The word either has been coined by the conservative political (and science fiction) writer Rafał Ziemkiewicz or he borrowed it to use as title of his book published in 2004. He used the “polactwo” as an umbrella for many negative traits of Polish nation, especially lower classes. The expression described a low self esteem and a tendency to copy external cultural influences by Poles while also not caring for the common good and being lazy and opportunistic.

The word is often used by people considering themselves better, more cultured than the common folk. It can serve right- as well as left-leaning political commentators to describe their adversaries, either for mindlessly shouting slogans about their proud nation without understanding them or not paying any attention to these ideals and only caring about their stomachs and purses.

Another word, “kołtuństwo”, while not a synonym, is very close semantically and often used alongside “polactwo”.

Examples:

Jak polactwo wybierze Tuska na prezydenta a PO na drugą kadencję, wtedy dopiero zacznie się strzyżenie baranów, ale one same sobie zgotują ten los.

Ale zjeby, chyba nie myślicie, że to ci sami ludzie co na wojnie? Stąd się biorą uprzedzenia i rasizm. Ja np. nienawidzę polactwa jak psów, ale nie przez to co było 100 lat temu, tylko patrząc na takich ludzi jak wy.

Hehe ironia losu. Klub mający historię, piękną halę, kumatych i oddanych kibiców rozwalony prywatnymi, wewnętrznymi wojenkami. To najlepszy przykład “polactwa” – prawda pani prokurent?

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