Rusyn, Ruthenian, Rusnak — a note on the words

Linguistic

⚠ A WARNING ROW. (1) RUSYN / Carpatho-Rusyn is the modern self-designation and the label of a recognised minority in Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania and the Czech Republic. (2) RUTHENIAN is a Latin and chancery term (Rutheni) once applied to East Slavs of the Hungarian and Polish-Lithuanian lands generally — it is NOT interchangeable with modern Rusyn identity, and Old Chancery Ruthenian is a distinct language. (3) RUSNAK (Руснак) is a widespread local self-name, in the Carpathians and in Vojvodina alike. (4) In Ukraine, Rusyns are officially counted as a subgroup of Ukrainians, which is itself a contested position, not a settled fact. A source’s own term is preserved with its date and context.