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Where does the word "polka" come from? It comes from Czech polka, and was adopted directly into English (1840s).
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Where does the word "polka" come from? It comes from Czech polka, and was adopted directly into English (1840s).
Polka’s story begins in Czech: polka meant “a lively half-step dance.” Possibly meaning "Polish woman", or from "pulka" (half-step). It reached English by 1840s as polka. Czech 'half-step', danced in Prague by the 1830s; a polka craze swept Paris and London in 1844. Today, polka means a lively couples dance of Central European origin, or its music.
- Stage 1 · Czech · 1830s polka "a lively half-step dance", possibly meaning "Polish woman", or from "pulka" (half-step).
- Stage 2 · English · 1840s polka "a lively couples dance in duple time", Czech 'half-step', danced in Prague by the 1830s; a polka craze swept Paris and London in 1844.