A calque ( pronounced “cal - KAY” ) is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word - for - word translation. Instead of borrowing the foreign word directly, you translate its components into your own language.
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Think of it like this: a language encounters a new concept or word in another language. Instead of just adopting the foreign word, it breaks down the foreign word into its constituent parts ( morphemes or words ) and translates each part into the equivalent in the borrowing language.
Example: Superman
The concept of “superman” ( or a similar being ) existed in other cultures. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche used the term “�bermensch” in his work.
“�bermensch” literally translates to “over - man” or “super - man” in English.
The English term “superman” was coined as a direct translation of Nietzsche’s philosophical concept, hence it’s a calque. It took the German word and translated its components ( “�ber” = “super/over” “mensch” = “man” ) .
More Examples of Calques
English: “skyscraper”
Source Language: French
Original Word: “gratte - ciel”
Literal Translation: “gratte” ( scrapes ) “ciel” ( sky ) = “sky - scraper. ”
English: “butterfly”
Source Language: German ( likely )
Original Word: “Falter” ( related to “flattern” - to flutter ) or perhaps a folk etymology that translated an unknown word related to butter.
One theory suggests it comes from an Old English word like “buterflēoge, ” where “butere” ( butter ) and “flēoge” ( fly ) were translated literally.
English: “pregnant”
Source Language: Latin
Original Word: “praegnans”
Literal Translation: “prae” ( before ) “gnans” ( knowing/being born ) = “before being born. ”
Persian: “روزنامه” ( ruznameh - newspaper )
Source Language: French
Original Word: “journal”
Literal Translation: “jour” ( day ) “ - nal” ( suffix forming a noun ) = “day - book” or “daily paper. ”
