Editing Silesia (section)

==Etymology==
The names of Silesia in different languages most likely share their etymology—{{langx|pl|Śląsk}} {{IPA|pl|ɕlɔ̃sk||Pl-Śląsk.ogg}}; {{langx|de|Schlesien}} {{IPA|de|ˈʃleːzi̯ən||De-Schlesien.ogg}}; {{langx|cs|Slezsko}} {{IPA|cs|ˈslɛsko|}}; {{langx|sli|Schläsing}}; {{langx|szl|Ślōnsk}} {{IPA|szl|ɕlonsk|}}; {{langx|dsb|Šlazyńska}} {{IPA|dsb|ˈʃlazɨnʲska|}}; {{langx|hsb|Šleska}} {{IPA|hsb|ˈʃlɛska|}}; {{langx|sk|Sliezsko}}; [[Latin]], Spanish and English: ''Silesia''; {{langx|fr|link=no|Silésie}}; {{langx|nl|Silezië}}; {{langx|it|Slesia}}. The names all relate to the name of a river (now [[Ślęza]]) and mountain ([[Mount Ślęża]]) in mid-southern Silesia, which served as a place of cult for pagans before [[Christianization]].

''Ślęża'' is listed as one of the numerous [[Pre-Indo-European languages|Pre-Indo-European]] topographic names in the region (see [[old European hydronymy]]).<ref>Zbigniew Babik, "Najstarsza warstwa nazewnicza na ziemiach polskich w granicach średniowiecznej Słowiańszczyzny", Uniwersitas, Kraków, 2001.</ref> According to some [[Polish language|Polonists]], the name ''Ślęża'' {{IPA|pl|ˈɕlɛ̃ʐa|}} or ''Ślęż'' {{IPA|pl|ɕlɛ̃ʂ|}} is directly related to the Old Polish words ''ślęg'' {{IPA|pl|ɕlɛŋk|}} or ''śląg'' {{IPA|pl|ɕlɔŋk|}}, which means dampness, moisture, or humidity.<ref>Rudolf Fischer. Onomastica slavogermanica. Uniwersytet Wrocławski. 2007. t. XXVI. 2007. str. 83</ref> They disagree with the hypothesis of an origin for the name ''Śląsk'' from the name of the [[Silingi|Silings]] tribe.<ref name='RGA'>{{cite encyclopedia |editor1=Jankuhn, Herbert |editor2=Beck, Heinrich | encyclopedia = [[Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde]] | title = Wandalen | language = de | edition = 2nd | year = 2006 | publisher = de Gruyter | volume = 33 | location = Berlin, Germany; New York City | quote = Da die Silingen offensichtlich ihren Namen im mittelalterlichen pagus silensis und dem mons slenz – möglicherweise mit dem Zobten gleichzusetzen [...] – hinterließen und damit einer ganzen Landschaft – Schlesien – den Namen gaben [...]|display-editors=etal}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=December 2024}}

In Polish common usage, "Śląsk" refers to traditionally Polish Upper Silesia and today's [[Silesian Voivodeship]], but less to Lower Silesia, which is different from Upper Silesia in many respects as its population was predominantly German-speaking from around the mid 19th century until 1945–48.<ref>{{cite book|publisher= C.H.Beck|title=Deutsche und Polen: Geschichte, Kultur, Politik|author=Andreas Lawaty, Hubert Orłowski|year= 2003|page=183|language=de}}</ref>