semantic borrowing

Imported word sense

Semantic borrowing occurs when a word in one language acquires a new meaning because a similar word in another language has that meaning.

The word itself isn't borrowed—just the sense.

English *mouse* meaning a computer device spread to other languages, so French *souris* and Spanish *ratón* (both meaning the rodent) now also mean the computer peripheral.

Also called a loan shift or calque of meaning.

linguistics

etymology

Word origin study

root · language family · proto-language · reconstruction · lexicology · diachronic · synchronic · philology · language change

examples

anglicism

English loanword abroad

westernism · neologism · foreignism

contact

code-switching

Alternating between linguistic varieties

convergence · diffusion · diglossia · pidginization · mutual influence · trade language

mechanism

calque

Borrowed phrase translated literally

Categories
Opposites
type of lexical borrowing

semantic borrowingloanword

Imported vocabulary item

importation · calque · loan translation

direction of influence

semantic borrowinglinguistic isolation

Separation through unshared speech

source of lexical innovation

semantic borrowingamelioration

Making something less bad

pejoration

Family

borrowed, borrowing, borrower, semantics, semantic, borrowers, semantically

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G