What is a portmanteau? | Definition, Examples, and How to Use Them
What is a portmanteau?
A portmanteau is a word or phrase that is formed by blending two or more other words or phrases. The word “portmanteau” comes from the French word “porte-manteau,” which means “cloak bag.” A cloak bag is a type of suitcase that is divided into two compartments. The two compartments of a portmanteau are like the two words that are blended together to create it.
Portmanteaus are often used in creative writing, advertising, and everyday speech. They can be used to create new words that are more concise or memorable than the words they are made from. For example, the word “brunch” is a portmanteau of the words “breakfast” and “lunch.”
Here are some other examples of portmanteaus:
- smog: smoke + fog
- motel: motor + hotel
- brunch: breakfast + lunch
- email: electronic + mail
- podcast: broadcast + pod
- selfie: self + photograph
- twerk: twist + jerk
- Brexit: Britain + exit
- covfefe: coffee + waffle
- gif: graphics + interchange format
- creepypasta creepy + copypasta
Portmanteaus can be a fun and creative way to add new words to the language. They can also be used to make existing words more concise or memorable. So next time you’re looking for a new word, why not try blending two or more words together to create your own portmanteau?
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