Portmanteau Word

Pronunciation: /pɔrtˈmæntoʊ wɜrd/

Definitions of portmanteau word

noun a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example, 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch'

Example Sentences

A1 A portmanteau word is a combination of two words to create a new one.

A2 Students in the English class learned about portmanteau words like 'brunch' and 'smog'.

B1 The use of portmanteau words has become more common in modern language.

B2 Some popular portmanteau words include 'spork' and 'motel'.

C1 Writers often use portmanteau words to add creativity and efficiency to their language.

C2 Linguists study the origins and evolution of portmanteau words in different languages.

Examples of portmanteau word in a Sentence

formal The linguist explained the concept of a portmanteau word as a blend of two words to create a new one.

informal I love how 'brunch' is a portmanteau word of 'breakfast' and 'lunch'.

slang My friends and I always use the portmanteau word 'hangry' to describe being angry because you're hungry.

figurative The artist described her painting style as a portmanteau word of realism and surrealism.

Grammatical Forms of portmanteau word

• past tense: used
• plural: portmanteau words
• comparative: more portmanteau
• superlative: most portmanteau
• present tense: use
• future tense: will use
• perfect tense: have used
• continuous tense: is using
• singular: portmanteau word
• positive degree: portmanteau
• infinitive: to use
• gerund: using
• participle: used

Origin and Evolution of portmanteau word

First Known Use: 1871 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'portmanteau word' was coined by Lewis Carroll in his book 'Through the Looking-Glass' published in 1871. It was used to describe words that combine the sounds and meanings of two different words.

Evolution of the word: Since its introduction by Lewis Carroll, the term 'portmanteau word' has become widely used in linguistics to describe words created by blending the sounds and meanings of two existing words. Examples of popular portmanteau words include 'brunch' (breakfast + lunch) and 'smog' (smoke + fog). The concept of blending words to create new ones has become a common practice in modern language, especially in the age of social media and internet culture.