A portmanteau is a word created by blending sounds and meanings from multiple other words (e.g., friend + enemy = frenemy). Portmanteaus describe concepts or phenomena in a concise, easily understood, and sometimes amusing way.
Portmanteau examplesOur athleisure line combines the comfort of athletic wear with the style of streetwear. (athletic + leisure)
I recorded a vlog documenting my search for the perfect Christmas tree. (video + log)
Fans cosplay as their favorite characters at the convention. (costume + play)
We watched a sci-fi movie about a cyborg that has human emotions combined with the strength of a robot. (cybernetic + organism)
Portmanteaus are a common part of everyday language, with many originating in domains like marketing, social media, technology, entertainment, or literature.
A malapropism is a verbal error that involves replacing the intended word with one that sounds similar (e.g., using “mute point” instead of “moot point”). Malapropisms are a linguistic phenomenon that occurs in everyday speech, but they are also used deliberately as a literary device.
Malapropism examplesMalapropism: They always look for an escape goat to blame.
Intended meaning: They always look for a scapegoat to blame.
Malapropism: When problems arise, it’s best to nip them in the butt.
Intended meaning: When problems arise, it’s best to nip them in the bud.
Malapropism: Our work is done, for all intensive purposes.
Intended meaning: Our work is done, for all intents and purposes.
Writers and performers often use malapropisms to create humor or convey particular character traits or themes. They can serve both stylistic and thematic purposes in a text.
