Blending is one if the most common type of word formation. Parts of two existing words are blended together to form new words. These parts are also referred to as morphemes.

Eg. Spoon + fork = Spork

Smoke + fog = Smog

The blended words are also known as Portmanteau words or simply Portmanteaus.The earliest blends in English only go back to The 19th century, with wordplay coinages by Lewis Carroll in Jabberwocky.

For example, he introduced to the language Slithy, formed from lithe and slimy, and Galumph, (from gallop and triumph).

Meaningful blends

Meaningful Blends are blends that “share properties of the referents Of both elements”. Here first part of the first word and second part of the second word are blended together to form new words.

GIANT + ENORMOUS = GINORMOUS

BANG + SMASH = BASH

INFORMATION + ENTERTAINMENT= INFOTAINMENT

OXFORD + CAMBRIDGE = OXBRIDGE

Modified Blends

Modified blends are blends in which “the first element modfies the second element”. Here first part of the first word and first part of the second word are blended together to form new words.

• INTERNATIONAL + NETWORK = INTERNET
• WIRELESS + FIDELITY = WIFI
• PROFILE + PICTURE = PRO-PIC

Other rare cases of blending can be seen in

• BY + CAUSE = BECAUSE
• PICTURE + ELEMENT = PIXEL
• CELLULOSE + DIAPHANE = CELLOPHANE
• INTERNET + CITIZEN = NETIZEN