Why does Serbian include more words of Turkish and Russian origin than Croatian?

The differences in vocabulary between Serbian and Croatian, including the presence of Turkish and Russian influences in Serbian, are primarily the result of distinct historical patterns of foreign domination and cultural orientation.1

• Turkish Influence: The Serbian language incorporates Turkish loanwords largely due to the long period of Ottoman Empire rule over Serbia. This extended historical presence facilitated the integration of Turkish vocabulary into the local speech of the region.123
• Russian Influence: The presence of Russian elements in Serbian is linked to historical and cultural ties, particularly through the Orthodox Church and the shared religious and cultural heritage that connected Serbs to the East.142

In contrast, the Croatian language has been shaped by different historical influences, including German, Hungarian, and Italian vocabulary, reflecting its orientation toward Western Europe and the Catholic Church. Furthermore, Croatian has a long-standing tradition of linguistic purism, where efforts are frequently made to replace foreign loanwords with native or newly coined terms to maintain the language's distinct character.15