Portmanteau Words
Portmanteau words are new words formed by blending two existing words, with each part contributing a piece of meaning and, often, a great deal of personality. They are a lively feature of English because they compress an idea into a single, memorable term: think of brunch, which combines breakfast and lunch, or smog, which fuses smoke and fog. Some portmanteaus sound playful and informal, while others have become so common that speakers use them without noticing their mixed origins. That flexibility makes them especially interesting to learners, because they show how English can expand creatively while still remaining easy to recognise and use.
These words matter because they help writers and speakers be concise, vivid, and contemporary. A well-chosen portmanteau can save space, sharpen a point, or add a subtle tone that a longer phrase would miss. For learners, this page is a practical way to build vocabulary and develop a better feel for how blended words work in real English. By exploring examples, patterns, and meanings, you can learn when a portmanteau sounds natural, when it feels too informal, and how it may be used in everyday conversation, journalism, advertising, and creative writing. In short, it is a useful guide to a small but expressive part of the language.
90 entries in this category
Business & Media
16A person or company that transmits media content to the public.
Media that is delivered through digital or electronic channels.
A magazine or broadcast program that presents news in a magazine style.
A dramatized film or program based on real events.
A program or event streamed over the internet.
A printed publication that reports current events.
A radio or television news program.
Media channels that reach large audiences.
Content that combines text, audio, images, and video.
A form of media that uses humor or irony to criticize.
Journalism that tells stories primarily through photographs.
A business meeting held by live video link.
The promotion and selling of goods or services by phone.
Investigative reporting that exposes corruption or wrongdoing.
The entertainment industry as a business.
A powerful person who controls major media businesses.
Everyday Blends
19A late morning meal that combines breakfast and lunch.
Air pollution formed by a mix of smoke and fog.
A roadside hotel designed for motorists.
A comedy television show based on recurring characters and situations.
A film that tells the story of a real person's life.
A television advertisement that presents information in a long format.
A film or show made in the style of a documentary for comic effect.
A soft laugh that is partly a snort.
A person who is both a friend and an enemy.
A utensil shaped like a spoon with fork like tines.
Irritable because of hunger.
A holiday spent at home or near home.
Traveling widely around the world.
An online seminar or presentation.
A mobile library that brings books to readers.
The practice of dressing as a character from fiction.
A close, affectionate friendship between men.
A dog bred from a Labrador retriever and a poodle.
A portable device for recording video.
Food & Drink
18A light drink made by mixing sparkling wine with citrus juice.
A sweet drink made by blending milk, ice cream, and flavorings.
A dessert drink made by adding ice cream to a soft drink.
A rich holiday drink made with eggs, milk, sugar, and spices.
A drink made by mixing beer with lemonade or another soft drink.
A shared party drink made from fruit juice or alcohol mixed together.
A thick blended drink made from fruit, yogurt, or milk.
A coffee drink made with steamed milk and espresso.
A blended coffee drink with milk and ice, often sweetened.
An informal word for breakfast, especially in some English dialects.
A tomato based condiment served with many foods.
A fermented tea drink made with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
A sweet drink made from rice or nuts, often flavored with cinnamon.
A chilled wine punch mixed with fruit and sometimes brandy.
A cold, partly frozen flavored drink.
A spiced tea drink brewed with milk and aromatic spices.
An espresso based coffee drink topped with steamed milk foam.
A cocktail made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine.
Fun & Slang
8To calm down and relax.
A device that measures alcohol in a person's breath.
The use of hacking for political or social causes.
A person who compulsively works too much.
A procession of motor vehicles, often for an important person.
An article written in the style of editorial content but paid for as advertising.
Extremely great or excellent.
Tight pants made to look like jeans and fit like leggings.
Technology & Internet
20A regularly updated online journal or site.
A person who actively uses the internet, especially as a member of an online community.
The virtual environment of digital networks and online activity.
Rules of polite behavior in online communication.
Media that combines informative content with entertainment.
Content designed to educate and entertain at the same time.
A blog presented in video form.
A downloadable audio program distributed over the internet.
A small, lightweight laptop designed for web use.
A combined work created by mixing content from different sources.
Buying and selling goods or services online.
Software designed to harm or exploit computers.
Software that secretly monitors a user's activity.
Software that displays advertisements, often unexpectedly.
Software distributed for trial use before payment.
Unauthorized copies of commercial software.
A text symbol used to express feeling in online communication.
Fraudulent phishing attempts sent by text message.
A mobile device larger than a phone but smaller than a tablet.
The integrated use of telecommunications and computer systems for sending information.
Weather & Nature
9An estimate based on limited information.
A simplified form of English used internationally.
To twist or damage something badly.
A television advertisement presented in an informative style.
A flavor or feeling that is both sad and pleasant.
An old blend word meaning slimy and smooth in movement.
Camping with luxury comforts and style.
Water formed by melting snow.
A promise to do something later, especially after a cancellation.