Wasserpolak

Wasserpolak was the name used for people living in Upper Silesia who spoke Silesian (a Polish dialect with many German and Czech elements). German equivalent is Wasserpolnisch, Czech Wasserpolák or Vasrpolák.

In Silesia, the Polish, German and Czech languages and cultures influenced one another for centuries. Since the 18th century, the German language became more important, starting to penetrate Slavic dialects. The term Wasserpolak appears in the 17th century and is used for Poles living in Upper Silesia around Opole and Racibórz. Later its use expanded to include all Slavic people of Silesia and the Polish-German border area. The origin of the name is unclear (translated literally, it means water Polish). Since the 19th century, the name started to be used as a derogatory term. This and the events of World War II made the term archaic, and it has fallen out of use now.