Ever wondered where words originate?
For portmanteaus, their history can be traced back to two or more direct parents. A portmanteau occurs when the parts or sounds of multiple words have blended to form a new word.
And they’re not just an English phenomenon. They regularly occur in Arabic, French (despite the existence of the Académie Française), Spanish and Hebrew, while several Chinese province names are also portmanteaus.
In fact, the name of the toys in the image of this post – Lego – comes from the Danish leg godt, which means “play well”.
So, what are today’s common portmanteaus?
Ricky Gervais’s new film is out, with his character David Brent made famous – of course – by the mockumentary approach given to The Office.
If music’s more your thing, perhaps a listen to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ Californication might do the trick.
Or if you’re heading to the football this weekend, maybe you’ll pick up the latest copy of your club’s fanzine.
Out on the streets there are crowds of people staring blankly at their phones. They are, apparently, on the hunt for Pokémon (or pocket monsters).
But portmanteaus don’t just attach themselves to the entertainment industry.
Men who don’t indulge in any physical activity can, unfortunately, expect to develop moobs as they reach middle age.
If you’re heading glamping this weekend, perhaps you’ll wear your latest pair of jeggings.
And when you’ve finished reading this blog, maybe you’ll email it to a colleague?
Of course, the word portmanteau is of French origin. Just don’t tell the supporters of the highest-profile portmanteau in current use: Brexit!