Welcome to our Portmanteaus Page
A portmanteau is a blend of words, in which parts of multiple words are combined into a new word, for example smog, is a potmanteau of smoke and fog, and Brexit is from Britain and exit. Can you work out the following portmanteau words?
Questions
- A very close but non-sexual relationship between two men?
- A bar and restaurant that serves high-end beer and food?
- A modern-day outdoor activity in which GPS is used to hide and find containers?
- A mate whose actions are often characteristic of a foe?
- Who introduces Alice to the concept of portmanteau words in the 1871 book Through the Looking-Glass? (This is an actual question, we're not asking for a portmanteau word!)
- A non-professional publication produced by enthusiasts for the pleasure of others who share their interest?
- To calm down and become less tense or anxious?
- The African Great Lakes nation formed formally in 1964?
- The nickname of the rail link between the United Kingdom and France?
- Term coined in 1994 describing a man that is very particular about his grooming and appearance?
- The name of the Martin Caidin novel that features the story of astronaut and test pilot, Steve Austin?
- A word meaning extremley large, as used in the 2003 film Elf?
- An adjective that describes being irritable due to feeling ravenous?
- A street fund raiser raising money for for a non-proft making organisation?
- A free software community founded by members of Netscape in 1998?
- Software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer system?
- A politico-economic union of three western European neighbour states?
- A singing and television presenting duo that first appeared in the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009?
- A portmanteau used to describe the use of media to communicate Christianity?
- Small protein-like molecules and hormones produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland?
Answers:
- Bromance (from Bro (brother) and romance)
- Gastropub (from gastronomy and public house)
- Geocaching (from geography and caching)
- Frenemy (combining friend and enemy)
- Humpty Dumpty
- Fanzine (from fan and magazine)
- Chillax (a blend of chill-out and relax)
- Tanzania (from the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar)
- Chunnel (from Channel and tunnel)
- Metrosexual (from metropolitan and heterosexual)
- Cyborg (from cybernetic and organism)
- Ginormous (from gigantic and enormous)
- Hangry (a portmanteau of hungry and angry)
- Chugger (from charity and mugger)
- Mozilla (a portmanteau of mosaic and godzilla)
- Malware (a portmanteau for malicious software)
- Benelux (from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- Jedward (identical twins John and Edward Grimes)
- Televangelism (from television and evangelism)
- Endorphin (from the words endogenous and morphine)