calque
Literal translation import
A calque is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by translating its parts literally rather than adopting the foreign word itself.
Skyscraper became French *gratte-ciel* (scrape-sky); German *Weltanschauung* became English *worldview*.
Unlike loanwords, calques preserve native vocabulary while importing foreign concepts.
Also called a loan translation.
Imported vocabulary item
- loan translationLiteral rendering of foreign idiom
- foreignismNon-native linguistic borrowing
- anglicismEnglish loanword abroad
- transliterationCross-script phonetic spelling
cognate · neologism · import · assimilation · interlingual · borrowed · incorporation · lexicon
Very tall urban building
- supermanExtraordinary achiever
- flea marketOutdoor secondhand goods venue
- wisdom toothLate-erupting back molar
- beer gardenOutdoor drinking establishment
masterpiece · loanword · worldview · antibody · gospel · standpoint · earworm · wanderlust
Exact rendering across languages
- word-for-wordExactly as stated
- compoundCombined into one
- derivationSource or origin tracing
- coinageInvented term or currency
loanword
Imported vocabulary item
- loan translationLiteral rendering of foreign idiom
- foreignismNon-native linguistic borrowing
- anglicismEnglish loanword abroad
transliteration · cognate · neologism · import · assimilation · interlingual · borrowed · incorporation · lexicon · etymology
skyscraper
Very tall urban building
- supermanExtraordinary achiever
- flea marketOutdoor secondhand goods venue
- wisdom toothLate-erupting back molar
beer garden · masterpiece · loanword · worldview · antibody · gospel · standpoint · earworm · wanderlust · kindergarten
literal translation
Exact rendering across languages
- word-for-wordExactly as stated
- compoundCombined into one
- derivationSource or origin tracing
calquefree translation
Non-literal language conversion
paraphrase · dynamic equivalence · semantic borrowing · coinage · neologism