Daedalus Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 A portmanteau, or portmanteau word, is a combination of two or more other words. The word portmanteau was introduced by Lewis Carroll, to explain words in the poem 'The Jabberwocky', such as frumious (fuming + furious), slithy (slimy + lithe) and chortle (chuckle + snort).Portmanteaus are found in many languages, you'll probably find some in your native language as well.They're not just limited to 'ordinary' words either, cities and countries can have portmanteau names, and names of several people can be mashed together.I personally quite like portmanteau words.Some examples (other than those listed above) are:* smog (smoke + fog)* brunch (breakfast + lunch)Do you know of any more? And do you know any in other languages? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraM Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Yes, portmanteau words are fascinating. I find it particularly interesting to see the ones that arise in pop culture and/or media and over time become acceptable as standard English. Here are a few that started out that way, and are standard English nowadays.guesstimate = guess + estimateedutainment = education + entertainmentinfomercial = information + commercialmockumentary = mock + documentarycosplay = costume + play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likethepear Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 The two languages that I speak are portmanteau words: Spanglish and Frenglish :speechless: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllllllllllllllllllllllll Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Most of the Portmanteau words I know are technical terms such as camcorder, intercom, malware, pixel (picture element), cineplex, simulcast, and WiFi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHandThatThieves Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I think portmanteaus are a terrific example of the ever-changing nature of language, and they can also function quite well in terms of jokes...What is big, grey, and missing a glass slipper?Cinderellaphant.*baddumtish* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1inamillion Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 On 1/16/2014 at 7:05 PM, TheHandThatThieves said: I think portmanteaus are a terrific example of the ever-changing nature of language, and they can also function quite well in terms of jokes...What is big, grey, and missing a glass slipper?Cinderellaphant.*baddumtish*Portmanteaus are words from by merging the sounds and meaning of two different words. They are mixed smoothly and inseparable. They also fit to relate harmoniously. For example: The voices blends well. Chortle comes from chuckle and snort. Bicurious comes from bisexual and curious, bleen from blue and green, digerati comes from digital and literati, hasbian comes from has been and lesbian, hotac comes from hotel and accommodation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seddik Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 More portmanteaus:Dramamentary for drama and documentary. Now, let me cast you back in time with the hope of meeting what might prove to be one of the more ancient portmanteaus. The word pharaoh seems to be an ancient portmanteau of phar which means a house and aoh which means great. Assuming that we can apply this modern term to such an ancient civilization. Therefore, a pharaoh means a great house. Really? :confused: Because the pharaoh was living in a great house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahRTW Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 There are a lot of great portmanteau words. The ones Lewis Carroll invented are the best, but some new ones also have a quirkiness about them:chillax = chill and relax (adolescences use it mostly : "Chilax, dude!"Fantabulous = fantastic and fabulous (also a more 'youthful' word) "It was FANTABULOUS winning gold at the Olympics"frabjous= fabulous and jubilant (one of the L.C. originals) "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!Advertorial = advertisement and editorial (an ad that's made to resemble an editorial)Galumphing = galloping + Thumping (another LC original) "He went gallumphing back" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShannonRiveras Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I never thought about this and I never knew what they're called! But I find these fascinating (and I'm always making up my own) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thekernel Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 "Cryptocurrency" is a relatively new term that is going to see a surge in popularity. It's a term describing virtual currencies that are encrypted for security. I feel like, as cryptocurrencies become more and more popular, we will be seeing the word a lot more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caffajake Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 A few I can think of offhand:'Blog' from 'web log'.'Vlog' from 'video log' or 'video blog'.'Mockumentary' from 'mock documentary'.'Chuggers' are 'charity muggers'. (A personal favourite - so apt!)And another one from Lewis Carroll - 'chortle', which is apparently a combination of 'chuckle + snort'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 On 2/22/2014 at 11:26 AM, Caffajake said: A few I can think of offhand:'Blog' from 'web log'.'Vlog' from 'video log' or 'video blog'.'Mockumentary' from 'mock documentary'.'Chuggers' are 'charity muggers'. (A personal favourite - so apt!)And another one from Lewis Carroll - 'chortle', which is apparently a combination of 'chuckle + snort'!Wow, you really seem to be an expert in this field. Thank you for sharing those lovely words. I didn't know that blog is actually a combination of web & log. That is indeed interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eudora13 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 On 9/11/2013 at 8:58 PM, likethepear said: The two languages that I speak are portmanteau words: Spanglish and Frenglish :speechless:Haha, I can almost relate to this! I combine English with my mother tongue so effortlessly and so often that I don't even realize when I'm doing it. It used to bother my mother terribly, but I guess she realized I was a lost case. :confused: I'm trying to cut down on this and I've been making a conscious effort to keep myself from speaking hybrid languages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
003 Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 Wow this is great! This is the first time I am able to know what words like these are called. In German language it is very common. It's just that they don't appear in the dictionary. Are these words, on the other hand, do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AExAVF Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Chargeware (credit card charge + software)Riskware (risk + software)Adware (advertisements + software)A couple of portmanteau words have sprouted in the world of technology and computers.And here is a list of more portmanteau words, some of which have already been mentioned in this thread.http://www.dailywritingtips.com/25-favorite-portmanteau-words/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosa Posted June 7, 2014 Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 I thought long and hard for any other word since most that were familiar to me were already mentioned. The one that came to mind was camcorder which come from camera and recorder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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