Learn Portmanteau Words and Speak Modern English

Today’s English
July 29th, 2017

If two different words with different sounds and meanings are packed up into a stylistic single word, the new word created thus is known as the portmanteau word. For example, the word “administrivia” is a portmanteau word that is a blending of “administrative” and “trivia” and refers to dull administrative activities which are to be completed. 

Sometimes the portmanteau word carries the meaning of more than two words.  For instance, the term “mechatronics” is basically a combination of “mechanical engineering” and “electronics” but it includes now  telecommunications, computer,  system and control engineering.  Here are some more examples for your everyday use:

1.Portmanteau word: chillax

Blended words: chill and relax

Meaning: relax and don’t be angry or nervous

Examples:
A.Chillax bro, I’m with you.
B.Chillax dude, the first thing to find a remedy is to be cool.

3.Portmanteau word: Workaholic

Blended words: work and alcoholic

Meaning: a person who works excessively for many hours, always thinks about his work and has no time to do other things

Examples:
A.My hubby is a workaholic and never makes a call from the office.
B.Many posts here still remain unfilled and few staff members become the victims and workaholics.

4.Portmanteau word: telethon

Blended words: television and marathon

Meaning : a very long television programme for raising money for charity.

Examples:
A.TV serials look like telethons but add revenues only to the channels.
B. Telethon 7 is a popular TV programme for Princess Margaret Hospital for children.

5.Portmanteau word: guesstimate

Blended words: guess and estimate

Meaning: an estimation drawn by guess as well as calculation

Examples:
A.Let’s make a rough guesstimate of expenditures for the Annual Day.
B.As per my guesstimate, it may take 5 days to complete the work.

6.Portmanteau word: Edutainment

Blended words: educational and entertainment

Meaning: an app, television programme, video, etc. that is both educational as well as entertaining

Examples:
A.This edutainment app will be very useful for your kid to learn the alphabets.
B.These edutainment cds are meant for elementary level students.

Let's listen to portmanteau dialogue:

Teacher 1: I don’t like people speaking Tamilish.

Teacher 2: Chillax sir, it’s a fashion and need of the time.

Teacher 3: I think, the reason is, they are fully engaged with whatsapp, Facebook and TV. Spend no time for improving their English.

Teacher 2: No, I don’t think so. All media are in one way or other offering them edutainments.  They learn more than the teachers from online sources.

Teacher 1: but, according to my guesstimate, within few years, students will totally stop listening to us and will be more and more influenced by social networks.

Teacher 3: Then we have to be only facilitators and not teachers. Ok,  It’s time and why can’t we go for a brunch now?