Lehnübersetzt

Lehnübersetzt is a German term that describes a specific type of loan translation or calque. It refers to a word or phrase that has been borrowed from another language, but instead of being adopted directly, its meaning is translated component by component into the borrowing language. This process results in a new expression in the borrowing language that mirrors the structure and meaning of the original foreign term.

For instance, the English term "skyscraper" is a lehnübersetzt in German. While the English word is a compound of "sky" and "scraper," the German equivalent "Wolkenkratzer" is a direct translation of these components: "Wolken" meaning "clouds" and "Kratzer" meaning "scraper." Therefore, "Wolkenkratzer" literally translates to "cloud scraper," capturing the essence of the original English concept through a translated structure.

Lehnübersetzungen are common in language development and are a significant way languages acquire new vocabulary and concepts. They allow for the integration of foreign ideas without necessarily introducing foreign words, thus preserving the phonetic and grammatical characteristics of the borrowing language. This method of borrowing can lead to the creation of vivid and descriptive terms that are easily understood by native speakers. Many scientific, technical, and cultural terms are introduced into languages through lehnübersetzungen.