Xenisms are non-native linguistic elements with a zero level of assimilation in the borrowing language. They do not influence the system of the borrowing language and remain outside it. The only feature that connects xenisms with the foreign language, in this case German, is their spelling, which corresponds to German orthographic norms. Since xenisms do not show any signs of assimilation and are linguistic structures that differ completely from German, they cannot be described from the perspective of assimilation processes. Nevertheless, they are of interest to linguists as units capable of performing stylistic functions in a text. Xenisms are found in texts published in the magazine „Der Spiegel“. The article attempts to describe the functions performed by xenisms, the most important of which are the expressive function, quotation, naming a new object, creating temporal and local colouring, and adding a comic effect.