polis

See also: Appendix:Variations of "polis"

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: pŏʹlĭs, IPA^(key): /ˈpɒ.lɪs/
• enPR: pōʹlĭs, IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊ.lɪs/
• Rhymes: -ɒlɪs

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *tpelH-

Proto-Hellenic *ptólis

Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis)lbor.

English polis

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis, “fortified town; city state”).

Noun

polis (plural poleis or polises)

1. (historical) A Greek city-state.
   • 2006, Karen Armstrong, The Great Transformation, Atlantic Books 2007, page 161:

     By the end of the century, poleis had been established throughout the Hellenic world, all bearing a marked family resemblance.

Related terms

• -polis

Translations

a city or city-state

• Bulgarian: полис m (polis)
• Catalan: polis (ca) f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 城邦 (zh) (chéngbāng)

• Czech: polis (cs) f
• Dutch: polis (nl)
• Finnish: polis (fi), kaupunkivaltio (fi)
• French: polis (fr)
• Georgian: პოლისი (ṗolisi), ქალაქ-სახელმწიფო (kalak-saxelmc̣ipo)
• German: Polis (de) f
• Greek: Πόλις-κράτος (Pólis-krátos)
• Hungarian: városállam (hu)
• Italian: polis (it) f
• Japanese: 都市 (ja) (toshi), ポリス (ja) (porisu)
• Polish: polis (pl) n
• Portuguese: pólis (pt) f
• Spanish: polis (es)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Scots polis. Doublet of police.

Alternative forms

• pollis

Noun

polis (countable and uncountable, plural polises)

1. (uncountable, Scotland, Ireland, Geordie) The police.
   • 1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 328:

     Even in his Ma's womb, you would have had to define Spud less as a foetus, more as a set of dormant drug and personality problems. He'd probably draw the polis onto them through knocking a saltcellar out of the Little Chef.

2. (countable, Scotland, Ireland, Geordie) A police officer.

Further reading

• Oxford Dictionaries Online. "polis". 2015.
• Bill Griffiths, editor (2004), “polis”, in A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Northumbria University Press, →ISBN.

Anagrams

• spoil

Azerbaijani

Other scripts

Cyrillic		полис
Abjad		پولیس

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [poˈlis]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pol‧is

Noun

polis (definite accusative polisi, plural polislər)

1. police (an organisation that enforces the law)

   polis idarəsi ― police department

   polis şöbəsi ― police station, police district

   polis əməkdaşı ― police employee

2. police (member of the police force)

Declension

Declension of polis
	singular	plural
nominative	polis	polislər
definite accusative	polisi	polisləri
dative	polisə	polislərə
locative	polisdə	polislərdə
ablative	polisdən	polislərdən
definite genitive	polisin	polislərin

Possessive forms of polis
	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisim	polislərim
sənin (“your”)	polisin	polislərin
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisi	polisləri
bizim (“our”)	polisimiz	polislərimiz
sizin (“your”)	polisiniz	polisləriniz
onların (“their”)	polisi or polisləri	polisləri
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisimi	polislərimi
sənin (“your”)	polisini	polislərini
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisini	polislərini
bizim (“our”)	polisimizi	polislərimizi
sizin (“your”)	polisinizi	polislərinizi
onların (“their”)	polisini or polislərini	polislərini
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisimə	polislərimə
sənin (“your”)	polisinə	polislərinə
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisinə	polislərinə
bizim (“our”)	polisimizə	polislərimizə
sizin (“your”)	polisinizə	polislərinizə
onların (“their”)	polisinə or polislərinə	polislərinə
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisimdə	polislərimdə
sənin (“your”)	polisində	polislərində
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisində	polislərində
bizim (“our”)	polisimizdə	polislərimizdə
sizin (“your”)	polisinizdə	polislərinizdə
onların (“their”)	polisində or polislərində	polislərində
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisimdən	polislərimdən
sənin (“your”)	polisindən	polislərindən
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisindən	polislərindən
bizim (“our”)	polisimizdən	polislərimizdən
sizin (“your”)	polisinizdən	polislərinizdən
onların (“their”)	polisindən or polislərindən	polislərindən
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	polisimin	polislərimin
sənin (“your”)	polisinin	polislərinin
onun (“his/her/its”)	polisinin	polislərinin
bizim (“our”)	polisimizin	polislərimizin
sizin (“your”)	polisinizin	polislərinizin
onların (“their”)	polisinin or polislərinin	polislərinin

Cebuano

Etymology

From English police, from Middle French police, from Latin politia (“state, government”), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía).

Noun

polis

1. a police officer; a cop
2. a civil force granted the legal authority for law enforcement and maintaining public order

Czech

Etymology

International learned borrowing Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis, “fortified town; city state”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpolɪs]

Noun

polis f (indeclinable)

1. polis (ancient Greek city-state)

Related terms

Related terms

• Akropole
• Akropolis
• antipolitický
• apolitický
• kosmopolita
• kosmopolitický
• kosmopolitismus
• kosmopolitní
• megalopole
• metropole
• nekropole
• polda
• policajt
• policie
• policista
• poliklinika
• poliš
• politbyro
• politický
• politik
• politika
• politikum
• politizace
• politizovat

Further reading

• “polis”, in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu (in Czech)
• “polis”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpoː.lɪs/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: po‧lis

Etymology 1

From French police (from Italian polizza, q.v.).

Noun

polis f (plural polissen, diminutive polisje n)

1. insurance policy
2. insurance plan

Derived terms

• verzekeringspolis
• woekerpolis

Descendants

• → Indonesian: polis

Etymology 2

International learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis) since the 1970s (probably via English polis).

Noun

polis f (plural poleis)

1. (historical) a polis; an ancient, especially Ancient Greek, city state or city

Finnish

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis, “fortified town; city state”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpolis/, [ˈpo̞lis̠]
• Rhymes: -olis
• Hyphenation^(key): po‧lis

Noun

polis

1. (historical) A Greek city-state.
   • 2011, Paavo Castrén, Uusi antiikin historia, Otava, page 117:

     Kreikkalainen polis tuli sekä etruski- että latinalaisten yhteisöjen esikuvaksi – –.

     The Greek polis came to be a role model for Estruscan and Latin communities alike – –

Declension

Inflection of polis (Kotus type 39/vastaus, no gradation)
nominative		polis	polikset
genitive		poliksen	polisten poliksien
partitive		polista	poliksia
illative		polikseen	poliksiin
		singular	plural
nominative		polis	polikset
accusative	nom.	polis	polikset
	gen.	poliksen
genitive		poliksen	polisten poliksien
partitive		polista	poliksia
inessive		poliksessa	poliksissa
elative		poliksesta	poliksista
illative		polikseen	poliksiin
adessive		poliksella	poliksilla
ablative		polikselta	poliksilta
allative		polikselle	poliksille
essive		poliksena	poliksina
translative		polikseksi	poliksiksi
abessive		poliksetta	poliksitta
instructive		—	poliksin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of polis (Kotus type 39/vastaus, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative polikseni polikseni accusative nom. polikseni polikseni gen. polikseni genitive polikseni polisteni poliksieni partitive polistani poliksiani inessive poliksessani poliksissani elative poliksestani poliksistani illative polikseeni poliksiini adessive poliksellani poliksillani ablative polikseltani poliksiltani allative polikselleni poliksilleni essive poliksenani poliksinani translative poliksekseni poliksikseni abessive poliksettani poliksittani instructive — — comitative — poliksineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative poliksesi poliksesi accusative nom. poliksesi poliksesi gen. poliksesi genitive poliksesi polistesi poliksiesi partitive polistasi poliksiasi inessive poliksessasi poliksissasi elative poliksestasi poliksistasi illative polikseesi poliksiisi adessive poliksellasi poliksillasi ablative polikseltasi poliksiltasi allative poliksellesi poliksillesi essive poliksenasi poliksinasi translative polikseksesi poliksiksesi abessive poliksettasi poliksittasi instructive — — comitative — poliksinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative poliksemme poliksemme accusative nom. poliksemme poliksemme gen. poliksemme genitive poliksemme polistemme poliksiemme partitive polistamme poliksiamme inessive poliksessamme poliksissamme elative poliksestamme poliksistamme illative polikseemme poliksiimme adessive poliksellamme poliksillamme ablative polikseltamme poliksiltamme allative poliksellemme poliksillemme essive poliksenamme poliksinamme translative polikseksemme poliksiksemme abessive poliksettamme poliksittamme instructive — — comitative — poliksinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative poliksenne poliksenne accusative nom. poliksenne poliksenne gen. poliksenne genitive poliksenne polistenne poliksienne partitive polistanne poliksianne inessive poliksessanne poliksissanne elative poliksestanne poliksistanne illative polikseenne poliksiinne adessive poliksellanne poliksillanne ablative polikseltanne poliksiltanne allative poliksellenne poliksillenne essive poliksenanne poliksinanne translative polikseksenne poliksiksenne abessive poliksettanne poliksittanne instructive — — comitative — poliksinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative poliksensa poliksensa accusative nom. poliksensa poliksensa gen. poliksensa genitive poliksensa polistensa poliksiensa partitive polistaan polistansa poliksiaan poliksiansa inessive poliksessaan poliksessansa poliksissaan poliksissansa elative poliksestaan poliksestansa poliksistaan poliksistansa illative polikseensa poliksiinsa adessive poliksellaan poliksellansa poliksillaan poliksillansa ablative polikseltaan polikseltansa poliksiltaan poliksiltansa allative polikselleen poliksellensa poliksilleen poliksillensa essive poliksenaan poliksenansa poliksinaan poliksinansa translative poliksekseen polikseksensa poliksikseen poliksiksensa abessive poliksettaan poliksettansa poliksittaan poliksittansa instructive — — comitative — poliksineen poliksinensa

Synonyms

• (general) kaupunkivaltio

Related terms

• -polis
• politiikka

French

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

polis

1. inflection of polir:
   1. first/second-person singular present indicative
   2. first/second-person singular past historic
   3. second-person singular imperative

Participle

polis m pl

1. masculine plural of poli

Adjective

polis

1. masculine plural of poli

Anagrams

• poils

Haitian Creole

Etymology

From French police.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /polis/

Noun

polis

1. police officer

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /po.lɪs/
• Rhymes: -lɪs
• Hyphenation: po‧lis

Etymology 1

From Dutch polis (“insurance policy”), from French police (“policy”), from Italian polizza, from Ancient Greek ἀπόδειξις (apódeixis, “proof”). Compare to Malay polisi (“policy”).

Noun

polis (first-person possessive polisku, second-person possessive polismu, third-person possessive polisnya)

1. insurance policy

Derived terms

• berpolis

Derived terms

• polis angsuran
• polis anuitas
• polis asuransi
• polis asuransi jiwa permanen
• polis bernilai
• polis kombinasi
• polis kumpulan
• polis lunas
• polis pajak warisan
• polis par
• polis penyertaan
• polis perjalanan
• polis proteksi ganda
• polis risiko tinggi
• polis terbatas
• polis terbayar penuh
• polis terbuka

 

Etymology 2

Noun

polis (first-person possessive polisku, second-person possessive polismu, third-person possessive polisnya)

1. nonstandard form of poles.

Usage notes

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian. The Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore usage can be seen in Malay polis.

Further reading

• “polis” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Latin

Noun

polīs

1. dative/ablative plural of polus

References

• polis in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “polis”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “polis”, in William Smith, editor (1848), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London: John Murray
• “polis”, in William Smith, editor (1854, 1857), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly

Latvian

Etymology

Ultimately from Polish polak, Russian поля́к (polják) (under the influence of Old High German pōl — cf. German, English Pole — and perhaps also of Latvian dialectal bolis, polis (“ox without horns”)), itself derived from Polish pole (“field”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“light (color), gray”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pūōlis]

Noun

polis m (2nd declension, feminine form: poliete)

1. a Pole, a Polish man, a man born in Poland

   pēc Livonijas kara poļi ieguva Vidzemi un Latgali ― after the Livonian War the Poles obtained Vidzeme and Latgale

2. (genitive plural) Polish; pertaining to Poland and its people

   poļu valoda ― the Polish language

   poļu māksla ― Polish art

Declension

Declension of polis (2nd declension)

	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	polis	poļi
accusative (akuzatīvs)	poli	poļus
genitive (ģenitīvs)	poļa	poļu
dative (datīvs)	polim	poļiem
instrumental (instrumentālis)	poli	poļiem
locative (lokatīvs)	polī	poļos
vocative (vokatīvs)	poli	poļi

Related terms

• Polija
• polisks
• poļu valoda

Malay

Pronunciation

• Audio (Malaysia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -is

Etymology 1

From English police, from Middle French police, from Latin politia (“state, government”), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía).

Noun

polis (Jawi spelling ڤوليس, plural polis-polis, informal 1st possessive polisku, 2nd possessive polismu, 3rd possessive polisnya)

1. (Malaysia, Singapore, Riau) police, a civil force granted the legal authority for law enforcement and maintaining public order.

Usage notes

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian due to shared etymology. The Indonesian usage can be seen in Indonesian polis.

Alternative forms

• polisi (Indonesia esp. Riau)

Synonyms

• serdadu (Southern Thailand)

Derived terms

• anggota polis (“police officer”)
• balai polis (“police station”)
• kereta polis (“police car”)

Etymology 2

Noun

polis (plural polis-polis, informal 1st possessive polisku, 2nd possessive polismu, 3rd possessive polisnya)

1. (Indonesia) alternative spelling of polisi (“policy”), see Indonesian polis (“policy”).

Further reading

• “polis” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.
• Kamus Bahasa Indonesia-Melayu Riau, Jakarta, Indonesia: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia, 1997, →ISBN, page 308

Papiamentu

Etymology

From Spanish policía and Portuguese polícia and Dutch politie.

Noun

polis

1. police
2. policeman

Pijin

Noun

polis

1. police
2. willy wagtail

Portuguese

Verb

polis

1. second-person plural present indicative of polir

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis).

Noun

polis n (plural polisuri)

1. polis

Declension

Declension of polis

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) polis	polisul	(niște) polisuri	polisurile
genitive/dative	(unui) polis	polisului	(unor) polisuri	polisurilor
vocative	polisule		polisurilor

Scots

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpolɪs/

Etymology 1

From the French police.

Noun

polis (countable and uncountable, plural polises)

1. (uncountable) police
   • 1987, Robbie Kydd, ...Auld Zimmery, Mariscat Press 1987:

     'Listen then. Yer name's Andy MacPhail. That's whit us three has jist tellt the polis in wir statements. Okay?'

   • 1991, Dr James Begg, Dipper: 20 - Cops and Robbers, Luath Press:

     ‘Aye, Andra,' cam back the reply. 'We micht as weel caa it a day doun here. The hale bluidy place is hotchin wi polis! Come doun an get us at the Auld Raw.'

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2007, Sheena Blackhall, The Quarry, Lochlands:

     Brian hid contactit his granfaither, Pat, tae see gin the polis computers could raik up onythin ava tae makk eese o in persuadin Bappy Anderson tae pairt wi a kidney.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2013, Pedro Lenz, translated by Donal McLaughlin, Naw Much of a Talker, Freight Books, page 51:

     Coont yirsel lucky ahm naw cawin the polis. Noo fuck off.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

polis

1. Polish

Verb

polis

1. polish
2. adorn, beautify

References

• http://www.dsl.ac.uk/ - Dictionary of the Scots Language

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpolis/ [ˈpo.lis]
• Rhymes: -olis
• Syllabification: po‧lis

Etymology 1

Noun

polis m pl or f pl

1. plural of poli

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis, “city-state”).

Noun

polis f pl (plural only)

1. polis

Further reading

• “polis”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28

Swedish

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

polis c

1. (often in the definite "polisen") police (organization that enforces the law)
2. a police officer

   Synonyms: polisman, (dated, now polisassistent) konstapel (“constable”)

Declension

Declension of polis

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	polis	polis
	definite	polisen	polisens
plural	indefinite	poliser	polisers
	definite	poliserna	polisernas

Colloquial or slang synonyms (police forces)

• snuten
• aina
• farbror blå
• grisen
• bängen (dated)
• bylingen (dated)

Colloquial or slang synonyms (police officer)

• snut
• gris
• byling (dated)

Derived terms

• militärpolis
• ordningspolis
• polisagent
• polisanmäla
• polisanmälan
• polisarrest
• polisaspirant
• polisassessor
• polisassistent
• polisbefäl
• polisbevaka
• polisbevakning
• polisbil
• polisbricka
• polisbrutalitet
• polisbuss
• polisbåt
• polischef
• polischock
• polisdistrikt
• polisdomstol
• poliseskort
• polisfordon
• polisförhör
• polisförhöra
• polisförstärkning
• polishelikopter
• polishjälp
• polishund
• polishus
• polishäkte
• polishäst
• polishögkvarter
• polishögskola
• polisingripande
• polisinrättning
• polisinsats
• polisinspektör
• polisintendent
• polisiär
• polisjakt
• poliskask
• poliskedja
• poliskommissarie
• poliskonstapel
• poliskontroll
• poliskund
• poliskår
• polislarm
• polisledning
• polislås
• polismakt
• polisman
• polismisshandel
• polismyndighet
• polismästare
• polisofficer
• polisområde
• polisorganisation
• polispatrull
• polispersonal
• polispiket
• polisprotokoll
• polispådrag
• polisradio
• polisrapport
• polisrazzia
• polisregister
• polissamarbete
• polissekreterare
• polissiren
• polisskola
• polisskydd
• polisspärr
• polisstat
• polisstation
• polisstyrelse
• polisstyrka
• polistillstånd
• polistjänsteman
• polisundersökning
• polisuniform
• polisuppbåd
• polisutredning
• polisvakt
• polisvåld
• polisvälde
• polisväsen
• polisväsende
• polisyrket
• polisärende
• polisövervakning
• språkpolis
• säkerhetspolis

 

References

• polis in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• polis in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• polis in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• Svensk MeSH

Tok Pisin

Etymology 1

From English police.

Noun

polis

1. police

Etymology 2

From English polish.

Noun

polis

1. polish

Turkish

Etymology

From Ottoman Turkish پولیس (polis), from French police.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /poˈlis/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: po‧lis

Noun

polis (definite accusative polisi, plural polisler)

1. (collectively) police (an organisation that enforces the law)
2. (specifically) police officer

   Synonyms: aynasız, polis memuru

Usage notes

• This term is gender-neutral.

Declension

Inflection
Nominative	polis
Definite accusative	polisi
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	polis	polisler
Definite accusative	polisi	polisleri
Dative	polise	polislere
Locative	poliste	polislerde
Ablative	polisten	polislerden
Genitive	polisin	polislerin
Possessive forms Nominative Singular Plural 1st singular polisim polislerim 2nd singular polisin polislerin 3rd singular polisi polisleri 1st plural polisimiz polislerimiz 2nd plural polisiniz polisleriniz 3rd plural polisleri polisleri Definite accusative Singular Plural 1st singular polisimi polislerimi 2nd singular polisini polislerini 3rd singular polisini polislerini 1st plural polisimizi polislerimizi 2nd plural polisinizi polislerinizi 3rd plural polislerini polislerini Dative Singular Plural 1st singular polisime polislerime 2nd singular polisine polislerine 3rd singular polisine polislerine 1st plural polisimize polislerimize 2nd plural polisinize polislerinize 3rd plural polislerine polislerine Locative Singular Plural 1st singular polisimde polislerimde 2nd singular polisinde polislerinde 3rd singular polisinde polislerinde 1st plural polisimizde polislerimizde 2nd plural polisinizde polislerinizde 3rd plural polislerinde polislerinde Ablative Singular Plural 1st singular polisimden polislerimden 2nd singular polisinden polislerinden 3rd singular polisinden polislerinden 1st plural polisimizden polislerimizden 2nd plural polisinizden polislerinizden 3rd plural polislerinden polislerinden Genitive Singular Plural 1st singular polisimin polislerimin 2nd singular polisinin polislerinin 3rd singular polisinin polislerinin 1st plural polisimizin polislerimizin 2nd plural polisinizin polislerinizin 3rd plural polislerinin polislerinin
Predicative forms Singular Plural 1st singular polisim polislerim 2nd singular polissin polislersin 3rd singular polis polistir polisler polislerdir 1st plural polisiz polisleriz 2nd plural polissiniz polislersiniz 3rd plural polisler polislerdir