What is portmanteau?

A portmanteau (or portmanteau word) is a linguistic blend of words, in which parts of multiple words are combined into a new word. The new word typically combines the meanings of the original words.

For example, "smog" is a portmanteau of "smoke" and "fog." Similarly, "brunch" combines "breakfast" and "lunch".

Key aspects of portmanteaus:

• Blending: Portmanteaus involve the merging of two or more words.
• Meaning Combination: The meaning of the resulting word is often derived from the meanings of the constituent words.
• Not Just Compounds: They differ from compound words, which simply join existing whole words (e.g., "sunflower"). Portmanteaus involve truncating and combining parts of words.
• Usage: They can be used for humor, efficiency, or to create new and unique terms.

You can explore more about Linguistic Blend or Compound Words for related concepts.