Portmanteau

A portmanteau combines two or more words or parts of words to create a new word with a blended meaning. The term “portmanteau” itself is a combination of the French words “porter” (to carry) and “manteau” (cloak), and was coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-Glass. Portmanteaus are often used in literature and popular culture to create new words that express a concept more succinctly than existing words can. They can also add humor or playfulness to language and are a popular device in advertising and branding.

Examples of portmanteau:

Brunch – This word is a combination of “breakfast” and “lunch,” and refers to a meal that is eaten in the late morning or early afternoon.

Smog – This word is a combination of “smoke” and “fog,” and refers to a type of air pollution that occurs when smoke and fog mix together.

Spork – This word is a combination of “spoon” and “fork,” and refers to a utensil that has both spoon and fork features.

Ginormous – This word is a combination of “gigantic” and “enormous,” and is used to describe something that is extremely large.

Chocoholic – This word is a combination of “chocolate” and “alcoholic,” and refers to a person who is addicted to chocolate.

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