Calque

usgb/kælk/
noun

A word or phrase taken from one language and translated word-for-word into another language.

'Flea market' is a calque of the French 'marché aux puces'.
Visual representation of "calque" - A word or phrase taken from one language and translated word-for-word into another language.

Often appears as...

  • borrowed calque
  • loan calque

Usage tips

Academic

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "calque"
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Cultural Origin

Understand that a calque relates to cultural concepts and may not make sense when directly translated.

Illustration for Cultural Origin
The calque 'sky-scraper' from English was adopted in many languages, though it may sound odd directly translated.
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Direct Translation

A calque is not just borrowing words; it's translating each part of a term to create a new expression in another language.

Illustration for Direct Translation
The English 'superman' is a calque from the German 'Übermensch'.
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Understanding Context

Be aware that calques can be confusing without context as their components may have different meanings separately.

Illustration for Understanding Context
In 'flea market', neither 'flea' nor 'market' indicates a place for vintage finds, but together, they're understood as one.
Visual representation of the word "Calque"

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