HOW TO PRONOUNCE
portmanteau
/pɔɹtˈmæn.toʊ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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port-MAN-toh: stress MAN.
The final eau sounds like the o in “go.” An alternative gives the last syllable the main stress, so use the IPA stress mark to distinguish the pronunciations.
TRY SAYING
“The word brunch is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗What does portmanteau mean?
noun
- A large travelling case usually made of leather, and opening into two equal sections.
- A word formed by putting two words together and thereby their meaning.
- A portmanteau film.
More meanings (4)
adjective
- Made by combining two (or more) words, stories, etc., in the manner of a linguistic portmanteau.
verb
- To create a portmanteau word.
noun
- (dated) A schoolbag.
- (archaic) A hook on which to hang clothing.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/pɔɹtˈmæn.toʊ/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
I rang the bell, and directed my servant to pack my portmanteau, and to send out for a railway guide.
The now completely suspicious Kerrel went to his closet, and noticed that two or three waistcoats were missing from a portmanteau.
More book examples (3)
It was in Newman’s own apartment that Valentin dined, having brought his portmanteau, so that he might adjourn directly to the railway.
He had not even had the energy to finish his packing, and his clothes and papers lay on the floor about the portmanteau.
"The portmanteau is rather big. Oh, dear, how they will miss him! I shall miss him myself--even though he doesn't know I am alive."