Polish and Polish Are Spelled Alike and Said Differently
To polish is to make smooth and shiny. Capitalised, Polish means of Poland, and the two are pronounced differently.
To polish is to rub something to make it smooth and shining. Capitalised, *Polish* means relating to Poland, and the pair is a favourite example of a *capitonym* — a word whose meaning and pronunciation change with capitalisation. POL-ish is the verb, POH-lish the nationality, and only the capital letter distinguishes them in writing.
- To make shiny. *Polish the silver.*
- A substance for polishing. *Shoe polish.*
- Refinement. *A performance with polish.*
- Polish — of Poland. *Polish history.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | polish | Polish the table. |
| Noun | polish | Furniture polish. |
| Adjective | polished | A polished finish. |
| Proper adjective | Polish | Polish cuisine. |
| Related | polite | A polite reply. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A capitonym changes with a capital letter.Polish and polish.
- Polite comes from the same root.Latin *polire*, to smooth.
- Polish off means finish quickly.Especially food.
Other capitonyms
- polish / Polish — to shine, and of Poland
- august / August — dignified, and the month
- march / March — to walk, and the month
- turkey / Turkey — the bird, and the country
- china / China — the crockery, and the country
From Old French *poliss-*, from Latin *polire*, to smooth or refine — the same root as *polite*.
What is a capitonym?
A word whose meaning changes when capitalised, often with a different pronunciation. Polish and polish are the standard example.
Are polite and polish related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *polire*, to smooth. A polite person is figuratively polished.