{"id":3429,"date":"2020-03-20T11:12:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T11:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/?p=3429"},"modified":"2024-04-20T18:02:36","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T18:02:36","slug":"fun-facts-49-portmanteau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/03\/20\/fun-facts-49-portmanteau\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun Facts About English #49 &#8211; Portmanteau"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Donalds-English-Classroom\/Search:CVC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"702\" width=\"702\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/048_2-1.jpg?resize=702%2C702&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Lewis Carroll&#8217;s <em>Through the Looking-Glass<\/em>, Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice that <em>slithy<\/em> combines the words &#8216;lithe and slimy&#8217; and <em>mimsy<\/em> means &#8216;flimsy and miserable.&#8217;  Though Carroll&#8217;s fanciful expressions may have lacked linguistic legs, his analogous use of <em>portmanteau<\/em>, a Middle French term for &#8216;a large suitcase,&#8217; coined the word as a literary device.  In fact, <em>portmanteau<\/em> is itself a portmanteau that joins <em>porter <\/em>(to carry) and <em>manteau<\/em> (cloak)!  A synonym and itself a portmanteau, <em>frankenword<\/em> is an autological word exemplifying the very word it describes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/humpty_dumpty.jpg?w=702&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Portmanteau<\/em> words are very popular in modern-day English and new combinations can manifest from any social corner.  Many older words<em> <\/em>have become so common that their timely origins are forgotten and their novelty has long since worn off.  Here is a short list of common <em>portmanteaux<\/em> in order of their known appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>gerrymander<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Governor Elbridge Gerry<\/em> + <em>salamander<\/em>; early 19th century<\/li><li><strong>brunch<\/strong> &#8211; <em>breakfast + lunch<\/em>; late 19th century<\/li><li><strong>Eurasia<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Europe<\/em> + <em>Asia<\/em>; 1881<\/li><li><strong>electrocution<\/strong> &#8211; <em>electricity + execution<\/em>; 1889<\/li><li><strong>motorcade<\/strong> &#8211; <em>motor + cavalcade<\/em>; early 20th century<\/li><li><strong>smog<\/strong> &#8211; <em>smoke + fog<\/em>; early 20th century<\/li><li><strong>spork<\/strong> &#8211; <em>spoon + fork<\/em>; 1909<\/li><li><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2019\/12\/27\/fun-facts-about-english-37\/\" target=\"_blank\">hangry<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; <em>hungry + angry<\/em>; 1918<\/li><li><strong>Chunnel<\/strong> &#8211; <em>channel + tunnel<\/em>; 1920s<\/li><li><strong>motel<\/strong> &#8211; <em>motor + hotel<\/em>; 1920s<\/li><li><strong>meld<\/strong> &#8211; <em>melt + weld<\/em>; 1930s<\/li><li><strong>ginormous<\/strong> &#8211; <em>gigantic + enormous<\/em>; 1948<\/li><li><strong>frenemy<\/strong> &#8211; <em>friend + enemy<\/em>; 1950s<\/li><li><strong>rockabilly<\/strong> &#8211; <em>rock\u2019n\u2019roll<\/em> + <em>hill-billy<\/em>; 1950s<\/li><li><strong>televangelist<\/strong> &#8211; <em>television + evangelist<\/em>; 1958<\/li><li><strong>bionic<\/strong> &#8211; <em>biology + electronic<\/em>; 1960s<\/li><li><strong>workaholic<\/strong> &#8211; <em>work + alcoholic<\/em>; 1968<\/li><li><strong>internet<\/strong> &#8211; <em>inter [reciprocal] + network<\/em>; 1970s<\/li><li><strong>Microsoft<\/strong> &#8211; <em>microcomputer<\/em> + <em>software<\/em>; 1975<\/li><li><strong>gaydar<\/strong> &#8211; <em>gay + radar<\/em>; 1980s<\/li><li><strong>carjack<\/strong> &#8211; <em>car + hijack<\/em>; 1990s<\/li><li><strong>cosplay<\/strong> &#8211; <em>costume + play<\/em>; 1990s<\/li><li><strong>emoticon<\/strong> &#8211; <em>emotion + icon<\/em>; 1990s<\/li><li><strong>metrosexual<\/strong> &#8211; <em>metropolitan + heterosexual<\/em>; 1990s<\/li><li><strong>adorkable<\/strong> &#8211; <em>adorable + dorky<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>anticipointment<\/strong> &#8211; <em>anticipation + disappointment<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>Brangelina<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Brad + Angelina<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>bromance<\/strong> &#8211; <em>brother + romance<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>mansplain<\/strong> &#8211; <em>man + explain<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>advertainment<\/strong> &#8211; <em>advertisement<\/em> + <em>entertainment<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><li><strong>permalance<\/strong> &#8211; <em>permanent<\/em> + <em>freelance<\/em>; 21st century<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you enjoyed reading this post, check out these posts on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/05\/08\/fun-facts-52-fossilized-words\/\" target=\"_blank\">fossilized words<\/a>, the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/05\/15\/fun-facts-53-peas\/\" target=\"_blank\">problem with peas<\/a>, or <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2021\/02\/08\/fun-facts-95-eponym\/\" target=\"_blank\">eponyms<\/a> named after notorious personalities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\">See the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"previous (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/03\/11\/fun-facts-about-english-48\/\" target=\"_blank\">previous<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/03\/15\/fun-facts-50-hello\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"next (opens in a new tab)\">next<\/a> <strong>Fun Facts About English<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Donalds-English-Classroom\/Search:CVC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/HEADER_GIF.gif?w=702&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Donald's English Classroom Kinney Brothers Publishing\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CVC Activities (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Donalds-English-Classroom\/Search:CVC\" target=\"_blank\">CVC Activities<\/a> are in abundance in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Donald's English Classroom (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Store\/Donalds-English-Classroom\/Search:CVC\" target=\"_blank\">Donald&#8217;s English Classroom<\/a>!  You&#8217;ll find <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"flash cards (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/CVC-Word-Flash-Card-Set-2980224\" target=\"_blank\">flash cards<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"charts (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/CVC-Word-Charts-913385\" target=\"_blank\">charts<\/a>, and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"task cards (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/CVC-Words-Task-Cards-2567458\" target=\"_blank\">task cards<\/a> ready to download and get your kids up and reading!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Lewis Carroll&#8217;s Through the Looking-Glass, Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice that slithy combines the words &#8216;lithe and slimy&#8217; and mimsy means &#8216;flimsy and miserable.&#8217; Though Carroll&#8217;s fanciful expressions may have lacked linguistic legs, his analogous use of portmanteau, a Middle French term for &#8216;a large suitcase,&#8217; coined the word as a literary device. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[94],"tags":[1167,1164,1162,20,593,611,1166,11,586,189,493,1168,1163,1165,1160,1161,232,607],"class_list":{"0":"post-3429","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fun-facts-about-english","8":"tag-bromance","9":"tag-brunch","10":"tag-cosplaying","11":"tag-donalds-english-classroom","12":"tag-etymology","13":"tag-gerrymander","14":"tag-internet","15":"tag-kinney-brothers-publishing","16":"tag-language","17":"tag-lewis-carroll","18":"tag-linguistics","19":"tag-microsoft","20":"tag-neologisms","21":"tag-portmanteau-words","22":"tag-smog","23":"tag-televangelist","24":"tag-vocabulary","25":"tag-word-origins","26":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/048_2-1.jpg?fit=2504%2C2504&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8GlQB-Tj","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3429"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10307,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3429\/revisions\/10307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinneybrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}