der  Pole

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpoːlə/

🌍 What does "der Pole" mean?

The word der Pole (masculine noun) refers to a male person who comes from Poland (Polen in German) or holds Polish citizenship. It's the masculine form of the demonym for Poland.

🚨 Important Note: Although "Pole" is the correct and neutral term, it can sometimes be perceived as stereotyping or discriminatory in certain contexts or when used with a derogatory tone. It's advisable to use the term sensitively and, if unsure about the context, consider more precise phrasing like "ein Mann aus Polen" (a man from Poland) or "ein polnischer Staatsbürger" (a Polish citizen).

The female form is die Polin.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of "Pole" in Detail

The noun "der Pole" is a masculine noun and follows the weak N-declension.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

Example Sentences

• Der Pole, den ich gestern getroffen habe, spricht sehr gut Deutsch. (The Pole I met yesterday speaks German very well.)
• Die Werke dieses Polen sind weltbekannt. (The works of this Pole are world-famous.)
• Ich habe dem Polen den Weg erklärt. (I explained the way to the Pole.)
• Kennst du den Polen dort drüben? (Do you know the Pole over there?)
• Viele Polen arbeiten in Deutschland. (Many Poles work in Germany.)

🗣️ How to Use "der Pole"?

"Der Pole" is used to refer to a male person from Poland.

• General Use: In neutral contexts like news reports, statistics, or general descriptions. Example: „Der neue Mitarbeiter ist Pole.“ (The new colleague is Polish.)
• Distinction: It clearly identifies the nationality.
• Be Mindful of Sensitivity: As with many demonyms, the term can be problematic in emotionally charged discussions or when used for generalizations. It's often better to speak of "Menschen aus Polen" (people from Poland) or "polnische Bürger" (Polish citizens) to avoid stereotyping.
• Feminine Form: For female individuals, use "die Polin". The plural for mixed groups or groups of men is "die Polen".

⚠️ Don't confuse "der Pole" (person) with "der Pol" (geographical or magnetic pole).

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Pole"

1. Remembering the Article: Think of a man from Poland. Men are often 'der' in German. So: der Mann -> der Pole.
2. Remembering the Meaning: Imagine a map. Poland is east of Germany. A man from there is der Pole. You need a 'pole' (stick, 'der Stab') to point to Poland on the map - 'der Pol-e'.

Der nice gentleman from Polen is der Pole.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• der Pol: Refers to a geographical or magnetic pole (North Pole, South Pole) or the end point of an axis. It has nothing to do with the nationality. The English word "pole" (the object) can also cause confusion.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Treffen sich zwei Freunde. Sagt der eine: „Ich habe einen polnischen Handwerker beauftragt. Super Arbeit, aber er hat die Rechnung rückwärts geschrieben!“ Fragt der andere: „Wieso das denn?“ – „Keine Ahnung, vielleicht aus Gewohnheit vom Rückwärts-Einparken?“

English Translation: Two friends meet. One says: "I hired a Polish handyman. Great work, but he wrote the invoice backwards!" The other asks: "Why on earth?" - "No idea, maybe out of habit from reverse parking?"

(Please note: This is a light-hearted joke and not intended to reinforce stereotypes.)

📜 Poem about the Term

German:
Ein Mann reist weit, kommt übers Land,
Aus Warschau oder Krakau bekannt.
Spricht seine Sprach', mal laut, mal leise,
Auf seiner ganz besond'ren Reise.
Man nennt ihn hier, das ist die Norm,
Der Pole, in maskuliner Form.

English Translation:
A man travels far, comes across the land,
Known from Warsaw or Krakow's sand.
Speaks his language, sometimes loud, sometimes low,
On his very special journey, to and fro.
He is called here, that is the norm,
Der Pole, in masculine form.

🤔 Little Riddle

German:
Ich komme aus dem Land der Piroggen und der Weichsel,
Meine Hauptstadt liegt an diesem Fluss ganz fixel.
Bin ich ein Mann, so nennt man mich geschwind,
Mit Artikel „der“ – wie heißt das Kind?

English Translation:
I come from the land of pierogi and the Vistula river,
My capital lies on this river, quite the giver.
If I am a man, they call me swift and bold,
With the article "der" – how is this story told?

Solution: der Pole

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The term "Pole" derives from the country name "Polen" (Poland). This, in turn, possibly originates from the West Slavic tribe of the Polans (Polanen), whose name derives from "pole" (field, plain).
• Feminine Form: die Polin
• Plural: die Polen
• Adjective: polnisch (Polish)