Combining Words Makes New Words
Movember! What? As an English learner, it is very easy to get confused. Especially when native English speakers start messing around with the language and mixing words together! But it is happening more and more these days, just like in the word MOVEMBER.
MOVEMBER = Moustache + November
Simple. So what does this mean?
What is Movember?
Movember is a charity event in which men grow moustaches to raise awareness and raise money for men’s health issues such as depression and male cancers. You can find out more information about the charity at Movember.com. So gentlemen, start showing your support by growing a moustache. Ladies, support your boyfriends or husbands by telling them they look great, even if it’s a lie.
Combining Words
A combined word like this is actually called a portmanteau but that’s not so important. The important thing is that at some time somebody got lazy and decided to put two perfectly fine words together and make things a little more confusing.
Common Combined Words – Test Yourself
Here are 15 of the most common. Test yourself. How many of these words do you already know and where do you think they come from?
| Smog | Smog = Smoke + Fog |
| Movember | Movember = Moustache + November |
| Liger | Liger = Lion + Tiger |
| Cosplay | Cosplay = Costume + Play |
| Mockumentary | Mockumentary = Mock + Documentary |
| Alcopop | Alcopop = Alcohol + Pop |
| Frappuccino | Frappuccino = Frappé + Cappuccino |
| Botel | Botel = Boat + Hotel |
| Chinglish | Chinglish = Chinese + English |
| Emoticon | Emoticon = Emotion + Icon |
| Freeware | Freeware = Free + Software |
| Cineplex | Cineplex = Cinema + Complex |
| Telemarketing | Telemarketing = Telephone + Marketing |
| Intel | Intel = Integrated + Electronics |
| Eurasia | Eurasia = Europe + Asia |
