Why does the Belarusian language include loanwords from Polish and Russian?

The presence of Polish and Russian loanwords in the Belarusian language is a direct reflection of the region’s complex history and its position between neighboring powers.1

The inclusion of these loanwords is primarily attributed to the following historical factors:

• Polish Influence: During the 14th to 18th centuries, the territory of present-day Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which eventually formed a federated state with Poland through the Union of Lublin in 1569. This long period of political union and the development of a Polish-speaking aristocracy in the region facilitated the integration of Polish vocabulary into the Belarusian language.12
• Russian Influence: As an East Slavic language, Belarusian shares linguistic roots with Russian. Furthermore, 20th-century government policies in Belarus frequently favored the Russian language, leading to its widespread use in public life and education, which further influenced the Belarusian lexicon.31

Because Belarusian dialects shade gradually into both Russian and Ukrainian, the language serves as a linguistic link between these groups, with its vocabulary shaped by centuries of shifting borders and political dominance.31