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Portmanteau: meaning, definitions and examples

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portmanteau

[ pɔːrtˈmæntoʊ ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

word combination

A portmanteau is a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example, brunch (breakfast + lunch) or smog (smoke + fog). Portmanteaus are commonly used in the English language to create new words that convey a specific meaning.

Synonyms

blend, compound word.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
portmanteau	Used to describe a word that is created by combining parts of two or more words, typically to form a single new word that has some meaning relating to both of the original words. 'Brunch' is a portmanteau of 'breakfast' and 'lunch' Another example is 'smog', which combines 'smoke' and 'fog'
blend	Used when two or more words are merged to form a new word, often to create a word that conveys meanings associated with its components. This term is particularly common in linguistic studies. 'Motel' is a blend of 'motor' and 'hotel'
compound word	Used to describe a word that is formed by joining two or more words, where each part contributes to the meaning of the whole. These can be written as one word, hyphenated, or as separate words. 'Toothbrush' is a compound word made from 'tooth' and 'brush' Another example is 'bookstore'

Word

Description / Examples

portmanteau

Used to describe a word that is created by combining parts of two or more words, typically to form a single new word that has some meaning relating to both of the original words.

'Brunch' is a portmanteau of 'breakfast' and 'lunch'
Another example is 'smog', which combines 'smoke' and 'fog'

blend

Used when two or more words are merged to form a new word, often to create a word that conveys meanings associated with its components. This term is particularly common in linguistic studies.

'Motel' is a blend of 'motor' and 'hotel'

compound word

Used to describe a word that is formed by joining two or more words, where each part contributes to the meaning of the whole. These can be written as one word, hyphenated, or as separate words.

'Toothbrush' is a compound word made from 'tooth' and 'brush'
Another example is 'bookstore'

Examples of usage

A popular portmanteau is 'podcast' (iPod + broadcast), referring to digital audio or video files available for streaming or downloading.
'Spork' is another well-known portmanteau, combining 'spoon' and 'fork' to describe a utensil with features of both.
The term 'staycation' (stay + vacation) became popular during the recession, describing a holiday spent at home instead of traveling.

Translations

Translations of the word "portmanteau" in other languages:

🇵🇹 palavra-valise

🇮🇳 समास

🇩🇪 Kofferwort

🇮🇩 kata gabungan

🇺🇦 портманто

🇵🇱 złożenie

🇯🇵 混成語

🇫🇷 mot-valise

🇪🇸 palabra maleta

🇹🇷 birleşik kelime

🇰🇷 혼성어

🇸🇦 كلمة مركبة

🇨🇿 kufříkové slovo

🇸🇰 spojenie slov

🇨🇳 混成词

🇸🇮 zloženka

🇮🇸 samsetningur

🇰🇿 құрама сөз

🇬🇪 შერეული სიტყვა

🇦🇿 birləşmiş söz

🇲🇽 palabra maleta

Etymology

The term 'portmanteau' originates from French, where it originally referred to a suitcase with two compartments. The concept was later adopted by Lewis Carroll in his book 'Through the Looking-Glass', where he used 'portmanteau' to describe words that combine the sounds and meanings of two others. Since then, portmanteaus have become a popular linguistic phenomenon in English and other languages, allowing for the creation of innovative and expressive vocabulary.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,415, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

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27412 retracting
27413 cramming
27414 hibernating
27415 portmanteau
27416 peaty
27417 gorse
27418 pincers
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