A portmanteau is a word formed by combining two or more words, and their definitions, into a new word. The new word takes on a blended meaning of the original words. Portmanteaus are commonly formed by combining the beginning of one word with the end of another ā a franken-word, if you will. š
Portmanteaus, also known as blend words, are a creative way to coin new terms and have become increasingly common in the English language. They allow writers to pack extra meaning and imagery into a single word. Portmanteaus often have a playful or whimsical quality to them.
Key Takeaways
- Some well-known examples of portmanteaus include "brunch" (breakfast + lunch), "smog" (smoke + fog), and "motel" (motor + hotel). (Motor refers to motorists here.)
- In recent years, portmanteaus have been frequently used to combine celebrity couple names, such as "Brangelina" (Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie) or "Bennifer" (Ben Affleck + Jennifer Lopez).
- They are also common in product and company names, like Microsoft's "Skype" (sky + peer-to-peer) video chat service.
Ironically, the term "portmanteau" itself is not a portmanteau. Let's explore the meaning and origins of portmanteaus and how to use them effectively in your own writing.
Portmanteau Meaning and Origins
The word "portmanteau" originated in the 16th century from the Middle French portemanteu, meaning a traveling bag or suitcase that opens into two equal parts. The word was first applied to blended words by author Lewis Carroll in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass. In the book, Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice the concept of two meanings "packed up into one word" like a portmanteau.
While Carroll popularized the term, portmanteaus had already been in use before he wrote about them, such as the word "slithy" (slimy + lithe) from his 1855 poem Jabberwocky. Other early examples not coined by Carroll include "squirl" (squiggle + whirl) and "gerrymander" (Gerry + salamander), both from the early 1800s.
Since Carroll's time, the popularity of portmanteaus has only grown. Portmanteaus exploded in usage in the 20th century and continue to be frequently coined today. They have become a staple of advertising, pop culture, political commentary, and everyday speech and writing.
Forming Clever Portmanteau Words
To create your own portmanteau, start by identifying two or more words you want to blend. The words should have related or complementary meanings that make sense when combined. They should also have sounds that flow together smoothly when blended.
Usually, the beginning of the first word is combined with the end of the second word, such as "spork" (spoon + fork). Sometimes portmanteaus are formed by overlapping sounds in the middle of the words, as in "Californication" (California + fornication). Other times, one word may be inserted into the middle of the other, like "Hungarican" (Hungary + American).
Some other creative examples of portmanteaus include:
- Frenemy (friend + enemy)
- Chillax (chill + relax)
- Mockumentary (mock + documentary)
- Staycation (stay + vacation)
- Bromance (brother + romance)
- Affluenza (affluence + influenza)
- Craptacular (crap + spectacular)
There's no strict formula for forming portmanteaus - the key is to play around with the words until you find a pleasing combination. The resulting portmanteau should be catchy and instantly convey its meaning. Try to avoid awkward or unpronounceable blends; you want your portmanteau to roll off the tongue nicely.
Have fun coining unique blend words to add color and concision to your writing; with a little creativity, the portmanteau possibilities are endless. ā¬„
