ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Loanwords in Serbian

Loanwords are like new toys that we learn from other big kids or grown-ups. In Serbian language, loanwords are words that come from other languages and are adopted into Serbian. It’s like adding new friends to our playgroup.

For example, some Serbian words come from Turkish, like kafa (coffee) and džep (pocket). Others come from German, like šnajder (tailor) and auto (car). Some even come from English, like fudbal (football) and kiosk.

Loanwords help Serbian language to expand and become more diverse. It’s like adding more colors to our drawing. We can use these words when we talk to people who speak those other languages or when we want to sound fancy.

But, we also have to be careful when we use loanwords because they can sometimes be confusing or not fit in with the rest of Serbian. It’s like trying to fit a square block into a round hole.

So, we can use loanwords to have fun and learn new things, but we should also make sure to use them in the right place and at the right time. Just like when we play with our toys, we need to know when it’s appropriate to use each one.