Portmanteau: meaning, definitions and examples
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portmanteau
[ pɔːrtˈmæntoʊ ]
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
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
Word origin
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.