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What's a portmanteau?

What’s a Portmanteau? (Meaning plus Examples)

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Smog, Netflix, brunch, podcast.

What’s a Portmanteau?

👍🏼Usage Note

I have known her for five years. (present perfect)
She knew the answer immediately. (simple past)
I have knew her for five years. (incorrect past participle)
She has know the answer. (incorrect verb form)

What do the words above have in common? They’re portmanteaus.

What's a portmanteau?

Portmanteau: What Are They?

A portmanteau (also called a blend) is like a word-smoothie. They combine two or more words by removing parts of their spelling.

The word smog is a combination of smoke + fog.

Portmanteaus adopt the meaning of both words it comprises, like smog, which the dictionary defines as “fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants“. Put more simply, it’s when you have both smoke and fog in the air simultaneously, this forms “smog“.

The takeaway is that portmanteaus are not just “word-smoothies” in the sense that the letters are chopped up and blended together, but also in the literal meaning as both words merge to form the new word altogether.

Portmanteaus vs. compound words

Compare the following group of words:

Internet (interconnected + network), brunch (breakfast + lunch); hangry (hungry + angry)

Afternoon (after + noon); airport (airport); baseball (base + ball)

The latter group is closed compound words, which comprise two or more words, such as baseball and basketball. As you can see, the difference between them is simply in how each is formed:

  • Compound words keep part of the original words’ spellings to create the new word; i.e., baseball uses the individual words base and ball entirely.
  • Portmanteaus use portions or segments of the original words and then glue them together; brunch combines breakfast and lunch, but it only uses the letters “br” from breakfast; the rest is lunch.

Popular Portmanteaus (A to E)

Portmanteau Blend of: Meaning
Advertorial advertisement + editorial An advertisement in the form of a written editorial.
Affluenza affluence + influenza Feelings of entitlement or lack of motivation experienced by wealthy or privileged people
Alphanumeric alphabetic + numeric Consisting of letters and numbers
Animatronics animation + electronics The electronic animation of puppets
Anklet ankle + bracelet Jewelry designed to wrap around the ankle
Athleisure athletic + leisure Comfortable clothing that can be worn for exercise or as casual, everyday attire
Biopic biography + picture A biographical film
Bollywood Bombay + Hollywood film industry in Bombay
Botox botulism + toxin cosmetic procedure to attenuate the signs of aging
Breathalyzer breath + analyzer A device used to detect someone’s blood alcohol level
Brexit Britain + exit Great Britain’s exit from the European Union
12. bromance brother + romance a close friendship between men
13. brunch breakfast + lunch a meal between the hours of breakfast and lunch
14. celebutante celebrity + debutante a wealthy person who receives media attention akin to that of a celebrity
15. cosplay costume + roleplay people dress as fictional characters in costumes
16. cyborg cybernetic + organism a creature with human features created using mechanical components
17. dumbfounded dumb + confounded astonished or utterly speechless
18. electrocute electricity + execute to harm or kill with electricity
19. email electronic + mail Someone who acts as a friend but holds feelings of envy/rivalry
20. emoticon emotion + icon facial expressions expressed through keyboard symbols
💡Study Tip

Practice using the verb in different tenses with example sentences to memorize the correct forms.

Portmanteaus (F to L)

21. froyo frozen + yogurt literally, frozen yogurt
22. frenemy friend + enemy When someone is angry as a result of hunger
23. fortnight fourteen + night two weeks/fourteen nights
24. fauxhawk faux + mohawk a fake mohawk
25. gastropub gastronomy + pub A bar that serves gourmet food
26. glamping glamorous + camping luxury camping
26. hangry hungry + angry when someone is angry as a result of hunger
27. hazmat hazardous + material a material (such as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions
28. intercom interconnected + network a two-way speaker system to communicate amongst people in a specific location
29. jeggings jeans + leggings leggings that look like jeans
30. labradoodle labrador + poodle hybrid dog breed of a labrador retriever and a poodle
32. listicle list + article an article formatted as a list

Portmanteaus (M to W)

33. mansplain man + explain to explain something (usually to a woman) in a condescending or patronizing manner
34. Medicare medical + care the US government’s health insurance program
35. metaverse meta + universe a virtual universe/environment for social connection
36. mocktail mock + cocktail a cocktail without alcohol
37. motel motor + hotel a hotel for motorists
38. newscast news + broadcast a radio or television segment that features current events
39. Obamacare Obama + care a term that describes the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama’s administration
40. pluot plum + apricot hybrid fruit that combines a plum and an apricot
41. podcast iPod + broadcast an audio program that can be downloaded and listened to
42. popsicle pop + icicle a frozen dessert on a stick
43. romcom romantic + comedy a movie plot that blends comedy and romance
44. smog smoke + fog hazy, polluted air
45. spork spoon + fork a utensil that is both a spoon and a fork
46. stash store + cache a hiding place to store valuables
47. vlog video + log a video diary published online
48. webinar web + seminar a presentation or seminar held online

In review

A portmanteau is a linguistic blend of words, where portions of two separate words are combined to create a new term.

The term “portmanteau” itself is a portmanteau, combining the French words “porter” (to carry) and “manteau” (coat). This suggests that these words carry the meanings of the words they blend. Coined by Lewis Carroll in “Through the Looking Glass,” the word has found its way into mainstream vocabulary, representing a unique form of wordplay.

The phrase gained prominence in the 19th century. Lewis Carroll’s use (invention?) of phrases like smog (smoke + fog) and brunch (breakfast + lunch) showcases the whimsical and oddly effective play on words.

Read about other literary devices

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are literary devices?
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Techniques writers use to enhance their writing and convey messages effectively.

How do literary devices differ from rhetorical devices?
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Literary devices are specific to creative writing, while rhetorical devices are broader.

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They help you understand and appreciate literature more deeply.

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Yes, they can make your writing more engaging and effective.

What’s the best way to remember different devices?
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Practice identifying them in texts you read regularly.

Grammar Expert. "Whats A Portmanteau Meaning Plus Examples." GrammarFlex, May 31, 2025, http://www.grammarflex.com/whats-a-portmanteau-meaning-plus-examples/.

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