Polaco (slur)

Polaco (lit. 'Pole') is a derogatory term used in Spain to refer to a Catalan person. Its etymological origins are uncertain, and all existing theories are speculative, usually based on the fact that the same word also refers non-derogatorily to Polish people. The term is primarily used in Madrid and the regions bordering Catalonia. Although rarely found in literature, it is common in colloquial speech, particularly during sporting events. Within Catalonia, the term has been reclaimed in some contexts, used without its derogatory connotations to differentiate Catalans from other Spaniards. The term is generally unknown in Poland.