LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Baltarusiai; Folklore; Kaimyninės tautos; Latviai; Lenkai; Lietuvių folkloras; Neighbouring nations; Rusai; Vokiečiai; Byelorussians; Folkloras; Germans; Kaimyninės tautos; Latvians; Lithuanian Folklore; Neighbouring nations; Poles; Russians.
ENThe article analyses the portrayal of neighbouring nations - Germans, Russians, Poles, Byelorussians, and Latvians - in various types and genres of Lithuanian folklore. Main objective is to indicate the reasons, which have influenced the naming of strangers in Lithuanian folklore using one or other motive. The subject of the research is the image of neighbouring nations in Lithuanian folklore. The methods, which were used: comparative, analysis. Data of the research: folklore texts from the archive (Lithuanian folklore manuscripts, which are collected in the Institute of Lithuanian literature and folklore) and from the published collections of folklore texts; also the studies by Lithuanian and foreign researchers concerning the issue of folklore about strangers. Results: in Lithuanian folklore texts neighbouring nations are depicted negatively or neutrally because of historical reasons, the otherness of their social status, confession, customs, language, and temper.