Calques

/kælks/ noun

Definition

Plural form of calque; multiple words or phrases created through the process of literal translation from another language.

Etymology

Simple pluralization of 'calque.' The term is used when discussing multiple examples of calquing in a language or comparing calques across different languages.

Kelly Says

When you study how languages influence each other, you'll find that calques often tell you which cultures were in contact—French political calques in English show British-French interactions, while American calques from German show immigration patterns.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.