What does "calque" mean?
A word or phrase in a language formed by word-for-word or morpheme-by-morpheme translation of a word in another language.
Calque
/kælk/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A word or phrase in a language formed by word-for-word or morpheme-by-morpheme translation of a word in another language.
- Grammar: calque is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: loan translation, borrowing, calque formation, calque phenomenon.
- Useful contrasts: adaptive translation, free translation, native coinage.
- Usage evidence: "Calque" is a loanword and "loanword" is a calque.
How to use "calque"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "calque" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "calque" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "calque" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "calque" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "calque" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "loan translation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "calque", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A word or phrase in a language formed by word-for-word or morpheme-by-morpheme translation of a word in another language.
"David S. Powers, professor of Islamic history and law at Cornell, says he thinks that the word as used today is in the nature of what linguists call a calque, a borrowing from another language in literal translation […]"
- 2 an expression introduced into one language by translating it from another language wordnet
Verb
- 1 To adopt (a word or phrase) from one language to another by semantic translation of its parts. transitive
"Terms like "cloud computing" have been calqued into multiple languages, making it easier for global audiences to grasp complex technological concepts. […] For example, translating Shakespeare's works into other languages often involves calquing phrases to maintain the rhythm and metaphorical richness of the original."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
adaptive translationfree translationnative coinagenative expression
Example
""Calque" is a loanword and "loanword" is a calque."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "calque"?
Common synonyms include: loan translation, borrowing, calque formation, calque phenomenon, component calque, compound calque.
How do you use "calque" in a sentence?
"Calque" is a loanword and "loanword" is a calque.
How do you pronounce "calque"?
Pronounced /kælk/.
Etymology
From French calque (“calque”, literally “copy, tracing”), from calquer (“to copy, trace”) (whence also calk), itself borrowed from Italian calcare, from Latin calcāre (“to tread”). Doublet of calcate and calcation.