O OneWordDaily
AI-generated image
Word of the Day Tuesday, June 9, 2026

calque

/kælk/ noun · British & US
Valid in UKValid in US
Share WhatsApp

What does calque mean?

noun

A word or phrase borrowed from another language and incorporated into the borrower language in its original form or with only superficial changes, often retaining its original grammatical structure.

Example

"The term 'smorgasbord' is a calque of the Swedish phrase 'smörgåsbord'."

Definition generated by AI and curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Synonyms for calque

Rhymes with calque

Etymologically related