These are the questions that keep me up at night

[conuly]

I can't figure out if the word "wanderlust" is a loanword or a calque. I think it must be a calque if we say it like we'd say an English word spelled that way, and a loanword if we say it like we'd say a German word spelled that way (or like we think Germans would say it, anyway).

Poll #19414 Wanderlust

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 125

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How do you say the word "wanderlust"?

View Answers

With a w at the beginning
112 (89.6%)

With a v at the beginning
6 (4.8%)

I'm not sure. I've never actually said it or heard it said
7 (5.6%)

I'm not familiar with this word
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[alexseanchai]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/wanderlust

https://heatheralexander.bandcamp.com/track/wanderlust

[conuly]

Yes, I'm aware of what the etymology of the word "wanderlust" is. What I want to know is if it is a calque (that is, a literal part-for-part translation) or a loanword (that is, taken wholesale from another language).

Interestingly, the word loanword is a calque, and the word calque is a loanword.

Edit: Sorry if that's a bit pissy. I'm half mad from hunger.

[wendelah1]

At the risk of sounding obvious, maybe you should eat.

It sounds like a loanword to me. I listened to the German and the English and they don't sound all that different to me, apart from the accent. 'Course I have kind of a tin ear when it comes to languages.

[conuly]

I AM EATING RIGHT NOW NOM NOM NOM.