Abstract
"This article examines the bipolarity of assessing the meaning of the borrowed word-mythonym peri in differently structured languages: Russian and Kazakh. The evolution and adaptation of this mythonym in different linguistic and cultural contexts, as well as its different emotional assessment, are shown. In the compared languages there is a shift in the meaning of the image of peri. This mythonym has a variety of stylistic shades, which depend on the genre, context and purpose of using the text. Thus, in the Russian language, the mythonym peri performs a function similar to the muses in ancient mythology, symbolizing poetic inspiration and creativity, and refers to high style. In the Kazakh language, this mythonym is used in folklore and has a variable meaning, which has a predominant negative assessment: it is often associated with demonyms: albasty, zheztyrnak, zhalmauyz kempir and harmful spirits, and is also used in colloquial speech. The reasons for the transition of the meaning of this mythonym from the androgynous type to the designation of a female person are named. Synonyms for this word have been identified, which reflect local mythological and cultural characteristics. The study was conducted on the basis of comparative, historical and etymological analyses. Keywords: bipolarity; borrowing; grade; connotation; word-mythonym, meaning; mythology. "