English is ever-evolving. As new technologies arise, we develop new words to describe them, and each new generation creates new slang terms from old classics.
Portmanteau is one of the many fun ways English adapts.
What’s a Portmanteau?
A portmanteau is a mash-up of two words to create a new word. One of the earliest examples in modern English is “suitcase,” a combination of the words “suit” and “case” that describes a case explicitly used to carry suits.
Here are some of the best modern portmanteaus we use every day!
Brunch
The mash-up between breakfast and lunch became the go-to meal for casual Sunday afternoon dining.
Frenemy
A frenemy describes a rocky relationship where two people claim to be friends while constantly trying to sabotage each other.
Askhole
Someone who constantly asks annoying and obvious questions just to get on your nerves. We know they’re doing it on purpose.
Gianormous
Did we need a word for something bigger than gigantic and enormous? The mash-up between the two humungous words describes something so big you can’t even imagine it.
Listicle
The bain of every journalist’s existence turns lists into articles. It’s an easy, user-friendly format for reporting that works well for online content.
Mansplain
A mash-up of “man” and “explain” describes instances where men attempt to overexplain things to women. It often refers to novice men who try to explain an expert woman’s field to her or when men try to explain simple concepts everyone knows to a woman.
Adorkable
She’s a dork, but it’s so darn adorable. This fun portmanteau describes someone who’s delightfully dorky.
Bromance
A bromance celebrates platonic love in male friendships. It combines the word “bro” (short for brother) with “romance” to signify the deep bond between friends.
Hangry
Hangry is the perfect portmanteau we never knew we needed. Most of us get cranky when hungry, and someone finally dared to describe the feeling by combining “hungry” with “angry.”
Hobosexual
Hobosexual is a portmanteau that plays off the words we use to describe sexuality. A hobosexual is a hobo who uses romantic relationships to secure living arrangements.
Hobosexuals are typically attracted to whoever will take care of them.
Emoticon
New technology forces us to use new lexicons to describe them. What do you call an icon that’s used to convey emotion? Emoticon seems like the perfect solution.
Chillax
If you just want to relax and chill out, you’re probably looking to chillax. The slang portmanteau can also be used as a verb, like telling someone to calm down.
Mantrum
Women’s communities created a new portmanteau to describe the emotional meltdowns many men exhibit when things don’t go their way. Combining “man” with “tantrum,” the word expresses the unique anger men display, which may include shouting, screaming, or even punching walls.
Brainiac
Super smart people obsessed with learning are brainiacs, a portmaneau combining “brain” and “maniac.”
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