Kursenieki

The Kursenieki (Latvian: kursenieki, German: Kuren – 'Curonians', Lithuanian: kuršininkai, kuršiai, Polish: Kuronowie Pruscy, Kurończycy) are a nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group living along the Curonian Spit. "Kuršiai" refers only to inhabitants of Lithuania and former East Prussia that speak a southwestern dialect of Latvian. Some autochthonous inhabitants of Šventoji in Lithuania call themselves "kuršiai" as well.

Kursenieki are often confused with the extinct Curonian Baltic tribe, as neighbouring ethnic groups called Kuršininkai/ Kursenieki as Curonians: in German, Latvian and Lithuanian, Kursenieki and the Curonian tribes are known by the same terms (Kuren, kurši and kuršiai respectively). In Polish, they are referred to as either Kuronowie Pruscy, which translates to "Prussian Curonians", or Kurończycy, a name which distinguishes them from the autochthonous people of the Courland region in Latvia, known as Kurowie in Polish. In Lithuanian scholarly literature, the name kuršininkai is used to distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. Similarly in Latvian kursenieki is used mostly exclusively by scientists to distinguish them from the Curonian tribe. On the other hand, Kursenieki should not be confused with Kurzemnieki, which are the geographical group of Latvians from Courland.

The Kursenieki have never designated themselves as Latvians and called their own language "Curonian language" (kursisk valoud). From a linguistic point of view, it is a southwestern dialect of Latvian, while some linguists also consider it a sociolect as Kursenieki were predominantly fishermen. In German and Latvian writings of the 19th century, Kursenieki sometimes are called "Prussian Latvians" (; ). Kursenieki were loyal to Germany and identified themselves as German citizens and ethnic Kursenieki.

The language spoken by the Kursenieki is referred to as the Kursenieki language. It is distinct from the Curonian language (or Old Curonian) spoken by the Curonian people.