Language · 2
What term describes the phenomenon where a new word is formed by combining two existing words, as in 'breakfast' plus 'lunch'?
Answer
Portmanteau
A portmanteau is a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two words — 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch' is the classic example. The term was popularised by Lewis Carroll in 'Through the Looking-Glass' (1871), when Humpty Dumpty explains words packed with two meanings like a portmanteau bag.
💡 Did you know?
Lewis Carroll invented the linguistic term 'portmanteau word' in 1871 — and also coined 'chortle' (chuckle + snort) and 'galumph' (gallop + triumph) using the very technique he named.
Other options people guess
- Compound
- Blend
- Neologism
Topics
- linguistics
- word-formation
- vocabulary
- etymology
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