Lithuanian is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and people find it fascinating because it keeps many of its ancient features. But it hasn’t stayed exactly the same over time. Lithuanians have borrowed words from other countries too. These borrowed words tell us a story of where Lithuanians traveled, who they traded with, and who influenced them.
In a previous article, I covered some words borrowed from Latin, Sanskrit, and Yiddish. Now, let’s look at more words Lithuanians borrowed from German, Polish, French, Turkish, and others. These words show how Lithuania has connected with different cultures through the ages.
German
Lithuania has a long history with German-speaking regions, especially because of nearby countries and trade groups like the Hanseatic League. As a result, Lithuanian took on some German words, especially those related to work, trade, and law.
Stalas (table) - from the German "Tisch"
Butelis (bottle) - from the German "Buttel"
Miestas (town/city) - from the German "Stadt"
Pinigai (money) - possibly from the German "Pfennig"
Škoti (to scour or scrub) - from the German "schrubben"
Polish
Lithuania and Poland were united for a long time, from the 14th to the 18th century, in what was called the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Because of this, Polish words entered Lithuanian, especially in religion, culture, and government.
Rūmai (palace) - from the Polish "rumy"
Bažnyčia (church) - from the Polish "baznicia"
Lova (bed) - from the Polish "łoże"
Ponas (mister, gentleman) - from the Polish "pan"
Valdžia (authority, government) - from the Polish "władza"
French
In the 19th century, French was considered fancy and popular across Europe. Even in Lithuania, people borrowed French words, especially related to arts, fashion, and food.
Kostiumas (suit) - from the French "costume"
Servetė (napkin) - from the French "serviette"
Marškiniai (shirt) - from the French "marque" (mark/brand)
Salotos (salad) - from the French "salade"
Korsetas (corset) - from the French "corset"
Turkish
Though less common, some Turkish words came into Lithuanian, mainly through past invasions and trading. These words often describe things for the military or everyday items.
Kepurė (cap) - from the Turkish "kepi"
Šokoladas (chocolate) - likely borrowed through Turkish merchants, from a Spanish term
Kuopa (military company) - from the Turkish "kupa" (group)
Batas (boot/shoe) - from the Turkish "pabuç"
All these borrowed words show that Lithuanian is a mix of both old roots and new influences from around the world. While the language has kept much of its ancient style, it has also grown and changed by adding bits from the cultures Lithuania has connected with over time.
How did you find this information? What word or language was the most unexpected? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Karolina, OLS Community manager – Lithuanian