calco

carbon copy

calque

el calco(

kahl

koh

)

A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).

masculine noun

A word or phrase that is only used by experts, professionals, or academics in a particular field (e.g., exposition).

(technical)

(act of copying)

a. tracing

A word or phrase that is only used by experts, professionals, or academics in a particular field (e.g., exposition).

(technical)

No puedo comenzar el calco si no tengo papel carbón.I cannot begin with the tracing if I don't have carbon paper.

2. (reproduction)

a. carbon copy

La tienda se queda con un calco del recibo.The store keeps a carbon copy of the receipt.

3. (exact copy)

a. copy

La historia de este cuento es un calco de "El gato con botas".The story in this tale is a copy of "Puss in Boots."

b. imitation

Eres un copión. ¡Este dibujo es un calco del que hice yo!You're a copycat. This drawing is an imitation of mine!

c. carbon copy

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).

(figurative)

Creo que los alumnos se copiaron. Este artículo es un calco del que acabo de leer.I believe the students cheated. This paper is a carbon copy of the one I just read.

d. spitting image

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(person)

Eres un calco de tu tía. ¡Hasta tienen el mismo peinado!You're the spitting image of your aunt. You even have the same haircut!

4. (linguistics)

a. calque

No sabía que la palabra "rascacielos" era un calco de la palabra inglesa "skyscraper".I didn't know that "rascacielos" was a calque from the English word "skyscraper."

b. loan translation

En Argentina le decimos "mouse", pero en otros países prefieren el calco "ratón".In Argentina we call it "mouse," but in other countries they use the loan translation "ratón."

Examples