what are blend words?
Blending or blend words are one of the many ways to create a new word in English. A blend word is created by merging two existing words together to make a new word. They are very common in this day and age. Let’s take a look at some examples.
For example:
- breakfast + lunch = brunch (a meal eaten late morning instead of breakfast and lunch)
- electronic + mail = email (text communication over the internet)
- glamorous + camping = glamping (posh camping with home comforts)
- mock + cocktail = mocktail (a non- alcoholic cocktail)
- work + alcoholic = workaholic (a person who never stops working.
Have you heard of any of these before?
Here are some more examples for you to familiarise yourselves with plus an example in use.
- alcohol + pop = alcopop
example – I don’t want to get wasted tonight, so I’m only taking a couple of alcopops (said no one ever!). - bang + smash = bash
example – Let`s go on the dodgems next, I want to bash the shit out of you. - biography + picture = biopic
example – There`s a biopic on telly tonight, I’m going to stay in and watch it. - biology + electronic = bionic
example – Have you seen the news? Doctors have made a bionic body for a guy who was in a car smash. - Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood
example – My friend is a Bollywood star. - booty + delicious = bootylicious
example – My body`s so bootylicious baby. - boxing + exercise = boxercise
example – I`m not going to boxercise tonight, I can’t be bothered. - breakfast + lunch = brunch
We`re doing brunch later this week so I’ll ask her then. - breath + analyser = breathalyser
example – Make sure you don’t have more than one drink; the cops are patrolling with breathalysers. - British + exit = Brexit
example – Who in their right mind voted for Brexit? - camera + recorder = camcorder
example – I`m definitely taking the camcorder on my safari holiday. - chuckle + snort = chortle
example – That was so funny, I couldn’t help but chortle to myself. - cybernetic + organism = cyborg
example – You need to watch Terminator, it`s about a cyborg. - documentary + shock = shockumentary
example – I was gobsmacked watching a shockumentary about drugs and crime last night. - electricity + execute = electrocute
example – Don’t touch the socket with wet hands, you`ll electrocute yourself. - electronic + mail = email
example – I just need to check my emails, then I’ll be with you. - emotion + icon = emoticon
example – I taught my mum how to use emoticons, now she keeps bombarding me with them. - fan + magazine = fanzine
example – I`ve unsubscribed to the fanzine for the club, it`s shit. - fantastic + fabulous = fantabulous
example – Darling, fantabulous party last night. I can’t wait for the next one. - Frankenstein + food = franken food
example – I`m not eating any of that franken food, just organic fruit and veg for me. - friend + enemy = frenemy
example – She`s my frenemy. We put up with each other, but I secretly hate her guts. - giant + enormous = ginormous
example – I found a shop that sells ginormous pancakes with any topping you like! - glamorous + camping = glamping
example – We`ll be glamping this year, it rained so much last year all our stuff got destroyed.
- gleam + shimmer = glimmer
example – Look at my new car glimmering in the sun. - global + English = Globish
example – My boss is sending me on a Globish course, so I can communicate better with our clients. - guess + estimate = guesstimate
example – I`d guestimate the price to be around $40 per unit. - hotel + motor = motel
example – There`s a nicer motel around the corner, let`s go there. - huge + monstrous = humongous
example – HELP! There`s a humongous spider on my bed. - international + network = internet
example – No internet for a week Timmy! If you can’t tidy your room, you can’t have internet. - lion + tiger = liger
example – Have you seen the cross between a lion and a tiger? It looks lush, it`s called a liger. - malicious + software = malware
example – You need better security on your tablet, there`s lots of malware flying around the net. - mock + cocktail = mocktail
example – Only mocktails for me tonight, I’m driving. - motor + pedal = moped
example – My son wants a moped, I said over my dead body. - multiple + complex = multiplex
example – A new multiplex cinema is being built soon. - Oxford + Cambridge = Oxbridge
example – I`m so clever, my teacher thinks I could go to Oxbridge. - parachute + troops = paratrooper
example – I`d love to be a paratrooper. - romantic + comedy = romcom
example – I`m going to make my boyfriend watch a romcom tonight, he secretly loves them. - sex + texting = sexting
example – I caught my boyfriend sexting his ex. I - slang + language = slanguage
example – Please don’t use slanguage around the boss. - smoke and fog = smog
example – The smog is so bad in Beijing, people have to wear masks. - Spanish + English = Spanglish
example – Just speak Spanglish, then we can all understand. - spoon + fork = spork
example – Have you seen a spork? It’s great for travelling. - sports + broadcast = sportscast
example – I love the Olympics, sportscasts all day! - squirm + wiggle = squiggle
example – Look at that little fish squiggling around in its tank. - stay + vacation = staycation
example – We can`t afford to go anywhere this year, so we`re having a staycation instead. - telephone + marathon = telethon
example – I`ll call you later for a catch up, we can have a telethon. - video + log = vlog
example – I need to update my vlog, my parents love seeing what I’ve been up to. - web + log = blog
example – I write a blog for a magazine. - web + seminar = webinar
example – We`ve got a webinar at 9am sharp. - work + alcoholic = workaholic
example – You need to slow down, you`re a workaholic, you`ll end up killing yourself one day.
blend words in use
I’ve made a few stories containing blend words. See if you can understand them.
blending words practice
blending words practice
Image by Procsilas Moscas on Flickr.com.
Like all languages, the English language is constantly evolving, changing and having new words added. One of the ways new words are added to English is by creating “blended words.” These are some of my favorite English words!
Blended words are a lot of fun if you ask me. To make a blended English word you take two existing words and combine the letters in a way to make a new word. The new word then represents a combination of the sounds and meanings of the two original words, but has its own unique meaning too!
Making blended words sounds like fun right? Some blended words in English are so common, most native English speakers forget they are a combination of two existing words. A lot of blended words in English started out, or still remain, slang/informal words, but some blended words have worked their way into dictionaries and common use.
One of the reasons I like blended words so much is because they show linguistic creativity! Blended words are symbols of how languages grow, change, and reflect current culture.
Here are is a list of common blended words in English:
blog (web + log) = a regularly updated website, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style – this is a BLOG!
brunch (breakfast + lunch) = a large meal eaten at a time between breakfast and lunch, replacing the two meals with one instead. (Eating brunch is very common on weekend days in America.)
cyborg (cybernetic + organism) = a hypothetical human being with physical abilities that are beyond a normal human because mechanical elements have been built into the body.
emoticon (emotion + icon) = keyboard symbols used to represent facial expression such as : – ) = 🙂
frenemy (friend + enemy) = a person who is a friend even though there is an underlying dislike or rivalry in the relationship
glamping (glamorous + camping) = high class camping, often in cabins or indoor structures, instead of tents, with many modern amenities, such as electricity, running water, cable TV and internet
humongous (huge + monstrous) = very big, both of these words mean large so putting the two words together indicates that something is extremely big
Internet (international + network) = the global communication network that allows computers around the world to connect and share information
mocktail (mock + cocktail) = a cocktail that has no alcohol in it, mock = fake, so this is like a fake cocktail
motel (motor + hotel) = a building with accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers, often (or originally) found along motorways or highways as opposed to in towns
smog (smoke + fog) = air pollutant often found in large cities
Spanglish (Spanish + English) = a mix of words and idioms from both Spanish and English, often used by people who know both languages well
spork (spoon + fork) = an eating utensil that is shaped like both a spoon and fork, often has a rounded spoon shape with short prongs at the end like a fork
staycation (stay + vacation) = a budget-friendly alternative to a vacation in which people stay at home during their time off from work
All of these words are somewhat resent additions to the English language, they are newly made words, from two existing words. This doesn’t mean though that we can all make up our own blended words and expect people to know what we are talking about. For example, I could make up the word: shandal (shoe + sandal), but no one would know what I’m talking about because it just isn’t an accepted or used blended word in English. So, for know we have to just use those blended words that are already out there (like those listed above) and wait to see what others develop over time. Who know, maybe shandal will someday be added to the list!
Here is our top list of blended words to help you with your writing.
Using blended words spices up writing by combining two words to form another. It’s similar to how parents decide to smash their names together to form their child’s name. These words merge attributes and definitions to describe a contemporary phenomenon.
Contents
- What Are Blended Words?
- Blended Words: Beginning + End of the Word
- Blended Words: Beginnings of Two Words
- Blended Words: Overlapping Two Words
- Common Blended Words
- Author
What Are Blended Words?
Also known as portmanteau words, blended words result from fusing two words with different meanings to form another English word. Most words in the English language originated from ancient Latin, Greek, German or French. But in the 20th century, blended words became popular because they were easy to create. They also became prevalent in the media and online community.
See the common blended words below that you can incorporate into your writing:
| Advertorial | Emoticon | Moped |
| Alcopop | Endorphin | Motel |
| Alphabet | Faction | Motorcade |
| Alphanumeric | Fanzine | Motorcycle |
| Amerind | Frenemy | Multiplex |
| Bash | Forex | Napalm |
| Beautility | Glamping | Newscast |
| Bit | Guesstimate | Pixel |
| Biopic | Ginormous | Sci-fi |
| Blog | Hazmat | Sexting |
| Bollywood | Heliport | Sexploitation |
| Botox | Hi-tech | Sheeple |
| Boxercise | Humongous | Sitcom |
| Brainiac | Infotainment | Skylab |
| Breathalyzer | Infotech | Slanguage |
| Brunch | Internet | Smog |
| Camcorder | Interpol | Spork |
| Chunnel | Jeggings | Sportscast |
| Clash | Keytar | Stan |
| Cosplay | Labradoodle | Staycation |
| Cremains | Laundromat | Telethon |
| Cyborg | Malware | Transistor |
| Docudrama | Metrosexual | Vitamin |
| Dumbfound | Mobike | Vlog |
| Electrocute | Mocktail | Webinar |
| Modem | Workaholic |
Do you want to have a firmer grasp of grammar? Check out the best 15 grammar books to make you a better writer.
Blended Words: Beginning + End of the Word
There are three ways to blend words: combining their beginning and end parts. This type is the most common blending, and best describes a portmanteau word.
- Advertisement + Editorial = Advertorial
Most people purchase products seen in the advertorial even if it’s not worth it.
- Bat + Mash = Bash
Don’t do that again, or I’ll bash your head at this table.
- Brain + Maniac = Brainiac
Sometimes it’s hard to talk to a brainiac because they always make me look like an idiot.
- Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch
People think Jamie and Jake are dating because they’re fond of having brunch together.
- Clap + Crash = Clash
I want to tell my cousin that her blue pants clash against her brown shoes, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.
- Dumb + Confound = Dumbfound
Your story’s surprise ending will dumbfound all of your readers.
- Electro + Execute = Electrocute
It’s a live wire, don’t touch it, or you’ll electrocute yourself.
- Endogenous + Morphine = Endorphin
Smiling helps increase the endorphin level and boost the body’s immune system.
- Fan + Magazine = Fanzine
They’re asking me if I want to have an interview for their fanzine.
- Friend + Enemy = Frenemy
I’m stuck with having to work with her, but since there are still many things we disagree on, you can say Aya is my frenemy.
- Helicopter + Airport = Heliport
We are going to the heliport to shoot our artist’s new music video.
- Information + Entertainment = Infotainment
Entertainment Tonight and The Oprah Winfrey Show are famous examples of infotainment shows in the US.
- Keyboard + Guitar = Keytar
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly keytar, go with Yamaha Vocaloid.
- Malicious + Software = Malware
Investing in a good antivirus helps you protect your devices against different malware attacks.
- Motor + Bicycle = Motorcycle
Mikaela wants to try riding a motorcycle.
- Multiple + Complex = Multiplex
The government said another multiplex would rise in this area next year.
- News + Broadcast = Newscast
I don’t get why my dad likes to watch foreign than a local newscast.
- Smoke + Fog = Smog
The smog has only worsened over the past years, so it’s best to wear a mask daily.
- Sport + Broadcast = Sportscast
James loves watching sportscasts even if he doesn’t play any sport.
- Telephone + Marathon = Telethon
I’m busy now, but we can have a telethon after work.
Blended Words: Beginnings of Two Words
The Oxford English Dictionary includes “rom-com” in the 20th century (1971). It’s the result of combining the first chunks of two existing words (romance and comedy) to form a shorter term. Here are other shortened words in the dictionary:
- Alcohol + Pop = Alcopop
His friends are teasing him for drinking alcopop at a party.
- American + Indian = Amerind
Amerind is the indigenous language of the native Americans.
- Biography + Picture = Biopic
His new project is to make a biopic of a historian.
- Costume + Play = Cosplay
June is busy looking for the perfect cosplay costume for this Halloween.
- Cybernetic + Organism = Cyborg
Many already predict that in the near future, socializing with a cyborg will just be as ordinary as scrolling through our smartphones.
- Electronic + Mail = Email
The boss asked him to create a separate professional email so he doesn’t miss any messages.
- Foreign + Exchange = Forex
Since the economy is improving, many individuals are investing in forex exchange again.
- Gigantic + Enormous = Ginormous
The new restaurant by the corner sells ginormous burgers at such a low price!
- Hazardous + Material = Hazmat
Be careful because there’s a lot of hazmat in this area.
- High + Technology = Hi-tech
I don’t know how to use our new kitchen appliances; they are all hi-tech!
- Information + Technology = Infotech
Her mom tries to stop her, but Angela is serious about taking college infotech courses.
- International + Network = Internet
She demands the room we should stay in must have an internet connection so she can regularly check up on her work emails.
- International + Police = Interpol
Her husband Gregory has worked at Interpol for ten years.
- Modulator + Demodulator = Modem
It’s our fourth time purchasing a new modem, but our internet is still not working correctly!
- Motor + Pedal = Moped
Calvin’s mom promised she’ll buy him a moped for his birthday.
- Naphthenic + Palmitic = Napalm
The government continues to deny using napalm as a chemical weapon.
- Science + Fiction = Sci-fi
The movie “Inception” is the top-rated sci-fi movie of all time on the IMDb website.
- Sexual + Exploitation = Sexploitation
I believe that one day the world and our people will be free from sexploitation.
- Situation + Comedy = Sitcom
Travis dreams of being a sitcom actor, but his parents want him to be a lawyer.
- Video + Log = Vlog
I can’t wait to watch the new travel vlog of my favorite YouTuber Gina!
Blended Words: Overlapping Two Words
The third method to use blending words is overlapping. Under this category, there are two ways to combine the words: first is by combining two words that sound alike. For example, Spanish plus English is Spanglish. Another way is by connecting two different words with the same one or two letters in a row. The best example is the word smash, where smack and mash are joined by “ma.” Below are other words to know:
- Beauty + Utility = Beautility
The beautility of the new furniture is impressive; no wonder many people want to buy it.
- Binary + Digit = Bit
A computer with a 64-bit processor is better than a 32-bit, but it still depends on your computer’s use and operating system.
- Botulinum + Toxin = Botox
Even if a botox injection procedure costs about $300 to $600, it’s still prevalent in America.
- Boxing + Exercise = Boxercise
Jake likes to do his boxercise at night to tire himself and rest straight away while avoiding eating more.
- Channel + Tunnel = Chunnel
It’s dangerous, so never try to drive a car or motorcycle through the Chunnel.
- Cremated + remains = Cremains
My grandfather loves the sea and said that when the time comes, he wants us to throw his cremains into the sea.
- Emotion + icon = Emoticon
Jay’s favorite emoticon is the smiling face with sunglasses.
- Fact + Fiction = Faction
Our professor explains that a faction is a story about a historical figure or events with fictional elements.
- Guess + Estimate = Guesstimate
Knowing the bride-to-be and her expensive tastes, I can guesstimate the total expenses for their wedding to be above $30,000.
- Jeans + Leggings = Jeggings
Kyla likes jeggings and often wears them even though they are not the right clothes for where she’s going.
- Labrador + Poodle = Labradoodle
His new dog is a black labradoodle, and it’s cute and scary looking at the same time.
- Metropolitan + Heterosexual = Metrosexual
Many of Gian’s friends consider him a metrosexual because he spends a lot of money and time on his appearance, grooming, and other refined tastes.
- Mock + Cocktail = Mocktail
I’m the designated driver tonight, so I can only have a mocktail.
- Motor + Hotel = Motel
The sudden storm made it hard to continue driving, so we’ll have to find the nearest motel and stay there tonight.
- Picture + Element = Pixel
The instruction states that videos with a maximum 640 by 480-pixel rectangular screen region can be immediately transmitted.
- Sheep + People = Sheeple
An individual who can’t think for themselves is a sheeple.
- Slang + Language = Slanguage
Even if we’re friends, speaking slanguage with me around the boss is unprofessional.
- Transfer + Resistor = Transistor
Gregory’s dad wants to buy a battery-operated transistor radio.
Common Blended Words
You can use almost everything in blending words, even names like the famous “Brangelina.” Sometimes it’s also a combination of more than two words like “turducken” or turkey + duck + chicken. Check the other examples below for more blended words:
- Alpha + Beta = Alphabet
My daughter is only two, but she can recite the whole alphabet perfectly.
- Alphabetic + Numeric = Alphanumeric
The password required eight alphanumeric characters.
- Web + Log = Blog
If you love writing a blog, you can use it to make money online.
- Breath + Analyzer = Breathalyzer
Please breathe into the breathalyzer so we can check your alcohol level.
- Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood
Mom enjoys Bollywood movies for their music video-type song numbers.
- Camera + Recorder = Camcorder
I’m saving money to buy the latest camcorder so I can document our future trips.
- Documentary + Drama = Docudrama
The director and producer of the new docudrama are looking for new actors and actresses!
- Glamorous + Camping = Glamping
I’m excited to go glamping with my friends tomorrow!
- Huge + Monstrous = Humongous
Don’t open it! There’s a humongous spider in the closet!
- Laundry + Automat = Laundromat
I’ve been looking for a laundromat around my dorm since yesterday.
- Motor + Bike = Mobike
Mobike is a good transportation option if your workplace is near your house.
- Motor + Cavalcade = Motorcade
The beauty queens motorcade was supposed to be yesterday, but it was canceled because of the heavy rain.
- Sex + Texting = Sexting
I don’t think it’s appropriate to do sexting with a stranger.
- Sky + Laboratory = Skylab
My son asks if the Skylab is real.
- Spoon + Fork = Spork
Get us a pack of sporks, as they’re more convenient during travels.
- Stalker + Fan = Stan
Fans are debating whether being a stan is the same as stalking.
- Stay + Vacation = Staycation
I want to book a good hotel room with a spa and have a peaceful staycation.
- Vital + Amino Acid = Vitamin
My doctor urged me to take one vitamin a day.
- Web + Seminar = Webinar
We have no school tomorrow but need to attend a webinar in the afternoon.
- Work + Alcoholic = Workaholic
Ria is a workaholic and has no time for herself anymore.
Increase your productivity by creating great habits tailored to your lifestyle. Discover the benefits of writing in the morning and incorporate it into your routine.
Join over 15,000 writers today
Get a FREE book of writing prompts and learn how to make more money from your writing.
-
Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn’t only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.
View all posts
Blending:
In English, Blending is a word-formation process in which
parts of two or more words combine to create a new word. Words that are
formed when two or more words are combined to form new words have some of
the properties of each of the original words. Therefore, combining two or
more words creates a new word that refers to something that has some
properties of the original words.
We already have many blend words in the English language, and even more
blend words are being created every day. English being a dynamic language
that is constantly evolving, many more new blend words are being added.
Following is a list of 15+ popular blend words:
-
brunch = breakfast + lunch
-
biopic = biography + picture
-
glimmer = gleam + shimmer
-
camcorder = camera + recorder
-
motel = motor + hotel
-
sitcom = situation + comedy
-
clash = clap + crash
-
smash = smack + mash
-
workaholic = work + alcoholic
-
moped = motor + pedal
-
pulsar = pulse + quasar
-
globish = global + English
-
faction = fact + fiction
-
docudrama = documentary + drama
-
sportscast = sports + broadcast
Try our online
practice test on blend words
Please also take a look at some of our trending online practice tests:
- Practice subject-verb agreement
- Transitive and Intransitive verbs
- Identifying Gerunds and participles
- A Level Organic Chemistry introduction
- A Level Organic Chemistry Halogenoalkanes
Thanks for reading this article. We sincerely hope you enjoyed it.
If you noticed any mistake, or have suggestions for us, please let us know
in the comments below. Thanks again.
Copyright © 2016-2023 notesflux.com
See Also:
English Grammar:
- Practice subject-verb agreement
- 10 useful IELTS preparation tips
- 6 useful online resources for IELTS preparation:
- Gerunds, participles and infinitives
- What are simile and metaphor?
- Clauses and their types
- Finite and non-finite verbs
- what are imperative sentences?
- Transitive and intransitive verbs
- Direct and indirect objects
Physics:
- Changes in Energy Stores
- Work, Power and Efficiency
- Electric Current and Circuits
- Static Electricity
Biology:
- Cell Structure
- Cell Division
- Transport in Cells
- Bacteria, Viruses, Pathogens and Communicable Diseases
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Plant-disease
Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs: Word Lists, Examples, and Explanations
Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs: Word Lists, Examples, and Explanations
Blends are when two or three letters come together and mix their sounds so that gently flow from one consonant sound to the next. An example of a blend is the word “black” where you quickly need to transition from the “b” to the “l” sound quickly.
In contrast, a digraph is a unique sound represented by two letters that makes a sound completely different from what those letters represent. For example, the “ch” in cheese doesn’t make a “c” or “h” sound at all. “Ch” instead makes its own unique sound that will need to be learned separately.
Finally, trigraphs are similar to digraphs, but instead of being represented by two letters, a trigraph is represented by three letters. A great example of a trigraph is the tch in the word “watch.”
Children learning English do not need to know these grammatical terms. However, they do need to be able to read these letters and make the correct sounds. This guide will help you master blends, digraphs, and trigraphs through common patterns, word lists, and examples so that you can get one step closer to English fluency.
Learning about Blends
Mistakes in pronouncing blends usually occur for one of two reasons. The first is being unable to switch between different sounds quickly and accurately. This problem should sort itself out as your child becomes more familiar with the sounds of English. The second problem happens when your child drops one of the sounds that make up a blend. Listen carefully to their pronunciation and make gentle corrections as necessary.
Consonant Blends Word List
To help you out, we have put together a list of common consonant blends that your child should encounter throughout their early English education. Your child probably already knows a lot of these words. If they don’t, then I imagine they will get introduced to them naturally over time.
Intro Consonant Blends Word List
Bl
Black, Blue, Blow, Blanket, Block, Blonde
Br
Brush, Brown, Broccoli, Brother, Bring, Bright, Bridge, Break, Bread, Brave, Branch, Brain
Cl
Clown, Clap, Clue, Cloud, Climb, Clean, Class, Classroom
Cr
Crazy, Crack, Crab, Cry, Crunch, Crocodile, Crayon, Create, Crash
Dr
Drive, Drip, Drop, Dry, drum, Drink, Dream, Dress, Draw, Dragon
Fl
Fly, Flat, Flush, Flower, Flip, Flavor, Flashcard, Flag, Flamingo
Fr
Fry, Freeze, Frog, Friend, Fresh
Gl
Glad, Glue
Gr
Green, Great, Grape, Grow, Group, Ground, Gross, Grin, Greedy, Grab, Grass, Grasshopper, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandparent, Grandchild, Grade
Pl
Place, Please, Plane, Plural, Plus, Plum, Plenty, Play, Playground, Plan, Planet, Plastic, Plate
Pr
Price, Pretty, Proper, Proud, Problem, Probably, Pro, Prince, Princess, Price
Tr
Trap, Truck, Trade, Traffic, Trail, Train, Trip, Trash
Tw
Twelve, Twenty, Twice, Twig, Twin, Twinkle, Twirl, Twist
Two* (does not make the w sound)
Wr
Wrong, Wreck, Wrap, Wrestle, Write
Consonant Blends with S Word List
As there are lots of blends with s, we decided to give you a separate list of consonant blends with s.
Sc
Scare, Score, Scarf, Scary
*Scissors, *Science (the c in these words are silent)
Sk
Skate, Skateboard, Skill, Skunk, Skeleton, Sky, Skip, Skin, Skirt, Ski
Sl
Slam, Slap, Slug, Slow, Sled, Slide, Slime, Slip, Slippers, Slice, Sleeve, Sleep
Sm
Small, Smack, Smooth, Smart, Smell, Smoke
Sn
Snore, Snot, Snack, Snail, Snap, Snow, Snowflake, Snowman, Sneak
Sp
Spy, Spoon, Space, Spaghetti, Spot, Sports, Sparkle, Speak, Special, Speed, Spell, Spill, spin, Spinach, Spit, Sponge
St
Stop, Stand, Still, Stairs, Stare, Star, Stick, Step, Sting, Stone, Stomach, Store, Storm, Story, Student
Sw
Swallow, Swap, Sweat, Sweater, Sweet, Swing, Swipe, Swim, Swimsuit, Switch
Sword* (does not make the w sound)
Common Ending Consonant Blends Word List
There are many ending blend patterns, so this is a list of some of the more common ones with some sample words that would be good for children to know. You do not need for your child to memorize all of them, but a well-rounded English education should have them encounter and learn these words naturally.
-mp
Lamp, Lump, Jump, Camp, Bump, Dump
-nk
Thank, Bank, Rank, Honk, Think, Drink, Blank
-nt
Ant, Pants, Went, Tent, Hint, Front, Point, Paint, Chant, Giant, Want
-lk
Milk, Walk, Talk, Chalk, Sidewalk
-lt
Salt, Melt, Adult, Fault, Result
-lf
Golf, Shelf, Wolf, Self, Half, Elf
-nd
And, End, Send, Sound, Round, Found, Wind, Hand, Find, Bind, Kind, Bend
-ft
Gift, Soft, Left, Lift, Craft
-st
Past, Must, Rust, East, West, Dust, Vest, Fast, Most, Last, Ghost, First, Worst
-sk
Ask, Disk, Risk, Desk, Mask
-rd
Word, Bird, Hard, Third, Board, Weird, Card, Yard, Lizard
-ld
Would, Could, Should, Bold, Cold, Fold, Sold, Hold, Wild, Build, Gold, World
-lp
Help, Kelp
-rk
Mark, Bark, Shark, Park, Pork, Dark
-pt
Adopt, Except, Accept, Attempt, Kept, Subtract
-ct
Act, Fact, Exact, React, Expect, Respect, Select, Object
List of Most Common Digraph Examples
Ch
Cheese, Chin, Check, Cheek, Chair, Chain, Champion, Challenge, Chance, Change, Channel, Chant, Chase, Chat, Cheer, Cheetah, Chew, Chest, Chicken, Child, Chimp, China, Chocolate, Choice, Chop, Choose
Ph
Phone
Sc
Science
Sh
Shoe, Shin, Shape, Share, Show, Shut, Shout, Shoulder, Shot, Should, Shop, Shoot, Shirt, Ship, Shiny, Shell, Shelf, Sheep, She, Shark, Shake, Shadow
Th
Thank, Thumb, thunder, Thursday, Thousand, Though, Those, This, These, That, Third, Thirsty, Think, They, Thick, Thief, Their, Them, Then, There, Their, They’re, The
Wh
White, Whale, When, Where, What, Why, Whistle, While, Wheel
List of Most Common Trigraph Examples
This is a list of the most common trigraphs found in English. for your convenience, we’ve sorted this list by beginning trigraph examples and mid/ending trigraph examples.
Beginning Trigraph Examples
Spl
Splash, Split, Spread
Sch
School, Schedule
Scr
Screen, Scrapbook, Scratch, Scream
Spr
Spring, Spread, Sprint, Spray
Str
Strength, Strong, Straight, Strawberry, Stretch, Street
Squ
Square, Squid, Squirrel, Squish, Squirt
Shr
Shrink, Shred, Shrimp, Shrug
Thr
Throat, Through, Three
Ending and Mid-Trigraph List
-air
Hair, Fair
-are
Dare, Share, Care, Bare, Rare
-dge
Edge, Fridge, Fudge, Judge
-ear
Tear, Fear, Beard, Ear, Dear
-eer
Deer, Cheer, Career
-igh
Light, High, Bright, Flight, Fight, Lightning, Right, Tonight
-ore
Core, More, Adore, Shore, Score, Store, Chore, Bored
-tch
Catch, Pitch, Patch, Itch
-ure
Sure, Cure, Pure
Is ing a Trigraph?
No, “ing” is not a trigraph. We think of “ing” as saying i + n + g, so it does not count. That being said, I often teach “ing” like a trigraph as these three letters are usually found together. I find that thinking of it as one entity makes it easier for children to learn.
How to Teach Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs
If you are teaching your child phonics, there is no need to teach them what a digraph or trigraph is. What you want is to get them used to recognizing these letter combinations and remembering that they make a unique sound. So it is important that they understand the sounds these digraphs and trigraphs make. However, they do not need to understand the grammar or even know of these grammatical terms.
As people who have been on this website before know, I am a big proponent of learning through reading and playing. While teaching blends, digraphs, and trigraphs, I would avoid worksheets or rote memorization of important words that fit these patterns.
Final Thoughts
Blends, digraphs, and trigraphs are important pieces of grammar for people who are teaching English to others. Although they are very similar ideas, there are small differences that make these three grammar points unique from each other. Before you start teaching your child these patterns, make sure you understand the basic concepts involved. When you start teaching, practice these patterns one-by-one and review them often. It may seem a long way off now, but practicing these English fundamentals will help make your child a fluent English speaker in no time at all. Good luck, and keep on practicing.
If you are looking for tips and tricks take a look at our post on teaching phonics to your kids and important things to know before starting your child’s phonics education.
If you need any more help, take a look at our Vowels and Consonants Resources with free flashcards, lessons, and articles to help you teach your child phonics.
Tip: See my list of the 
Most Common Mistakes in English. It will teach you how to avoid mistakes with commas, prepositions, irregular verbs, and much more.
English speakers are very creative when it comes to making up new words by combining parts of words that already exist. For example, most people know that “brunch” is a combination of “breakfast” and “lunch”, but did you know that “smog” comes from “smoke” and “fog”?
There are lots and lots of such words in English, many more than in other European languages. One of the reasons for that is, of course, that English has many more speakers than other European languages (with the exception of Spanish), so there are more people who can potentially create a catchy new word.
Nevertheless, I believe that the main reason is much more pragmatic. English is a fairly analytic language, which in linguistic jargon refers to a language that, simply put, conveys the function of a word using word order and things like prepositions rather than endings and prefixes. Words in English are thought of as isolated units, whereas words in other European languages often carry additional information, and it is much easier to merge two isolated units than to merge two words carrying a lot of additional information, some of which would inevitably be lost during merging.
But enough of that theoretical nonsense. Let’s take a look at actual examples of such words in English.
English portmanteaus
A portmanteau is a type of blend word in which the beginning of one word is combined with the final part of another word. For example, it may surprise you that the word “bit” used in computing (as in “megabit”) is a portmanteau of ”binary” and “digit” (its development was probably influenced by the fact that “bit” already was an English word meaning a small amount of something). Sometimes the two parts may overlap, e.g. “smash”, which is composed of “smack” and “mash” with “ma” connecting the two parts.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common portmanteaus in English that are more or less accepted (note that the list excludes brand and product names, which are often based on a portmanteau):
alphanumeric = alphabetic + numeric
advertorial = advertisement + editorial
bit = binary + digit (only in computing)
brainiac = brain + maniac
breathalyzer = breath + analyzer
Brexit = Britain + exit
brunch = breakfast + lunch
camcorder = camera + recorder
dumbfound = dumb (mute) + confound
electrocute = electro- + execute
email = electronic + mail
emoticon = emotion + icon
endorphin = endogenous + morphine
fanzine = fan + magazine
forex = foreign + exchange
guesstimate = guess + estimate
infomercial = information + commercial
keytar = keyboard + guitar
labradoodle = labrador + poodle
mechatronics = mechanics + electronics
metrosexual = metropolitan + heterosexual
moped = motor + pedals (borrowed from Swedish)
motel = motor + hotel
napalm = naphthenic + palmitic
Oxbridge = Oxford + Cambridge (used in the UK to refer collectively to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge)
newscast = news + broadcast
paratrooper = parachute + troop + -er
phablet = phone + tablet
pulsar = pulsating + star
sexting = sex + texting
sheeple = sheep + people
smash = smack + mash
smog = smoke + fog
Spanglish = Spanish + English
televangelist = television + evangelist
transistor = transconductance or transfer + resistor
vlog = video + blog (itself a shortening of web + log)
vitamin = vital + amine (introduced by a Polish biochemist when it was thought that all vitamins contained an amino acid)
webinar = web + seminar
workaholic = work + -a- + alcoholic
There is also an archaic word “cameleopard”, composed of “camel” and “leopard”, which means “giraffe”. If you are interested in the history of that word (and of the word “giraffe”), you can read my article about them.
Blend words combining the beginnings of two words
Another type of blend words, which are less common than portmanteaus in English, is formed by taking the first part of one word, the first part of another word, and merging them into one word. Here are the most common such words:
Amerind = American + Indian (referring to native Americans)
botox = botulism + toxin
cyborg = cybernetic + organism
cosplay = costume + play
hazmat = hazardeous + mataterial
modem = modulator + demodulator
sitcom = situation + comedy
Subscribe to my educational newsletter
to receive a weekly summary of new articles
Enter your email address below:
Please, enter a valid email address:
You tried to submit the form very quickly after opening this page. To confirm that you are a human, please, click on the button below again:
Use the image
You can use the image on another website, provided that you link to the source article. If you share it on Twitter or Facebook, I kindly ask you to tag my profile @JakubMarian.
If you share it on reddit, please, share a link to the whole article and give credit to my subreddit r/JakubMarian in the comments.
08.07.2021
Английский язык постоянно развивается и обогащается новыми словами и выражениями. Англичане становятся довольно изобретательными ребятами, когда речь заходит о создании новых слов. Вы наверняка замечали в английском языке слова, которые состоят из других слов. Такие слова в английском языке получили названия blend words (от английского «blend» — смесь, смешение) или portmanteau words (от французского «чемодан»).
В русском языке есть несколько названий для подобного словообразования: слова-гибриды, смешанные слова, портмонто, слова-бумажники.
Смешанные слова могут появляться путем слияния начала одного слова и окончания другого слова. Например, английское слово «motel» (мотель) произошло от смешения начальной части слова «motor» (мотор) и окончания слова «hotel» (отель). Еще один способ образования слов-гибридов – это соединение начальной части одного слова и начальной части другого слова. К примеру, слово «sitcom» (ситком) образовалось путем объединения начальной части слова «situation» (ситуация) и начала слова «comedy» (комедия). Таким образом, два слова или части слов сливаются, образуя слово с новым значением, однако новое слово содержит лексическия значения двух слов, из которых оно возникло.
Давайте посмотрим на примеры таких слов в английском языке:
- Brexit (брексит, выход Великобритании из Евросоюза) = Britain (Великобритания) + exit (выход)
- Brunch (бранч, поздник завтрак) = breakfast (завтрак) + lunch (обед)
- Chugger (чаггер, уличный сборщик пожертвований на благотворительность) = charity (благотворительность) + mugger (уличный грабитель)
- Chunnel (транспортный тоннель под проливом Ла-Манш) = channel (канал, пролив) + tunnel (тоннель)
- Clash (столкновение, грохот) = clap (хлопок, удар) + crash (авария, удар)
- Cosplay (косплей) = costume (костюм) + play (игра)
- Email (электронная почта) = electronic (электронный) + mail (почта)
- Jeggings (джеггинсы) = jeans (джинсы) + leggings (леггинсы)
- Kidult (кидалт, взрослый ребенок) = kid (ребенок) + adult (взрослый)
- Moobs (избыточный вес на груди мужчин) = man (мужчина) + boobs (женская грудь)
- Motel (мотель) = motor (мотор, двигатель) + hotel (отель)
- Motorcade (автоколонна, автомобильный кортеж) = motor (мотор, двигатель) + cavalcade (группа всадников)
- Oxbridge (Оксбридж, университеты Оксфорда и Кембриджа) = Oxford (Оксфорд) + Cambridge (Кембридж)
- Romcom (романическая комедия) = romantic (романический) + comedy (комедия)
- Runglish (смешение русского и английского языков) = Russian (русский язык) + English (английский язык)
- Satnav (спутниковая навигация) = satellite (спутник) + navigation (навигация)
- Sitcom (ситком, ситуационная комедия) = situation (ситуация, положение) + comedy (комедия)
- Slanguage (сленг, жаргонная речь) = slang (сленг) + language (язык)
- Smog (смог) = smoke (дым) + fog (туман)
- Spanglish (смесь испанского и английского языков) = Spain (Испания) + English (английский язык)
- Vlog (видеоблог) = video (видео) + blog (блог)
- Vodcast (водкаст, видеофайлы в интернете) = video (видео) + podcast (подкаст, аудиофайлы в интернет)
- Webinar (вебинар, интернет-конференция) = web (веб, сеть) + seminar (семинар)
- Webzine (интернет-журнал) = web (веб, сеть) + magazine (журнал)
Вы наверняка слышали еще один яркий пример слияния: слово «Brangelina» (BradPitt + AngelinaJolie). Такое слияние возникает, когда пару воспринимают вместе, как одно целое.
Благодаря блендингу в английском языке можно встретить большое количество новых слов. Такой способ словообразования очень характерен именно для английского языка. Популярность blendwords нетрудно объяснять: такие слова легко создавать. Смешивание слов расширяет язык, добавляя в него новые интересные слова. В последние годы отмечается увеличение количества смешанных слов и значительная часть таких слов используется в сфере интернета и технологий.
Интернет-слова из английского языка
Ложные друзья переводчика в английском языке: примеры
Разобраться со всеми нюансами английского языка вам поможет Центр Иностранных Языков «Хогварст»
Телефон для записи + 375 33 381 00 01
If you are considering any of the spelling programs then this is the best blog that will help you out with forming words. It will help kids to learn different sounds of the English language. You should remember to choose the words that help kids to understand all the different 44 phoneme sounds. These 44 sounds are formed by blending letters – vowels and consonants.
Blends are formed when two or three consonants are combined to form the distinct sound. Blends are also called consonant clusters. For instance, the word blend can be bl, cl, fl, pl, gl, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr, sk, sp, st, sl, sw, spr, cr, str.
Following is a list of 21 commonly used initial consonant blends with example words.
| Initial Blend | Example Words |
| Bl | Blend, blue, black, blanket, bleach, blood, blast, blatant, blame, bluebird, bleak, blaze, blind, block |
| Cl | Click, clam, clean, claim, class, clap, clay, close, clash, clothes, climb, cling, clock |
| Fl | Fleet, Flick, Flag, Flip, Fled, Flake, Flame, Flare, Flash, Flat, Flaw, Flour, Floss, Flop, Fly, Flew, Flesh, Flight, FLing, Float |
| GL | Glad, glamor, glasses, glass, glaze, glee, glitter, globe, glove, glue |
| PL | Place, plan, play, plant, please, plenty, plus, plywood, plate, plum, plumber |
| SL | Slick, slack, sleigh, sleeve, sleek, sled, slot, slice, slim, slime, slow, slot, sleep |
| BR | Brace, Bright, Brain, Brick, Broom, Brush, Broke, Brook, Bridge, Brisk, Brim, Brief, Bring, Broad, Branch, Brand, Brass, Brat, Brave, Bride, Brown |
| CR | Cry, Crush, Crumb, Crab, Crook, Cramp, Crawl, Crow, Cripple, Crazy, Credit, Cradle, Create, Creature, Crop, Cross, Crowd, Crown, Crane |
| DR | Draft, Draw, Dread, Dream, Draw, Dress, Drizzle, Drama, Drake, Dragon, Drink, Drone, Drill, Drive, Drove, Drench, Drift, |
| FR | Frail, Frame, Frock, Frill, Frizz, Frog, From, Front, Frost, Frozen, Fruit, Frying, Free, Fresh, Friday, Freak |
| GR | Grand, Grab, Grill, Group, Gram, Grow, Grew, Grass, Graft, Grip, Groan, Grasshopper, Gross, Grail, Green, Grid, Grudge, Grate, Ground, Growl |
| PR | Pray, Prod, Prune, Prone, Pry, Prey, Prime, Primary, Proof, Practice, Prize, Price, Prickle, Prince, Proud, Prevent, Private, Press, Promise, Prefer |
| TR | Track, Tram, Truffle, True, Trim, Truck, Truce, Trauma, Trigger, Travel, Trade, Troop, Trend, Tribe, Trunk, Trade, Train, Trolley, |
| SC | School, Scale, Scallop, Scalp, Scam, Scan, Scare, Scold, Scarce, Scoop, Scoot, Scooter, Score, Scope, Scuba, Scarf, Scatter, Scribble, Scratch, Schedule. |
| SK | Skill, Skinny, Skunk, Skeleton, Skin, Sky, Skate, Skittle, Ski, SKid, Skilled, Skip, Skirt, Skull |
| SM | Smart, Small, Smell, Smear, Smash, Smitten, Smock, Smoke, Smog, Smack, Smooth, Smile, Smudge |
| SN | Snack, Snake, Snag, Snail, Snarl, Snatch, Snip, Sniff, Sneak, Sneeze, Snore, Snuggle, Snow, Snug, |
| SP | Special, Spark, Spare, Spoke, Speaking, Splash, Space, Spot, Sphere, Spill, Spoil, Spend, Splurge, Sport, Splendid, Spinster, Sprain, Spank, Spirit, Sprung, Spy, Spray, Sprout |
| ST | Stare, Star, Stark, Stumble, Stifle, Stiff, Stammer, Store, Stale, Street, Steel, Streak, Storm, Still, Strong, Stair, Step, Stone, Stage, Stray, sting, Stink, Strange, Strain, Straight, Study, Strike |
| SW | Swallow, Sweet, Sweep, Swipe, Swirl, Sweat, Sweater, Swim, Swimmer, Swollen, Swan, Sworn, swear, Swing, Swam, Switch. |
| TW | Twitch, tweak, tweet, twenty, twelve, twist, twine |
In the final blend of the words, you would see that the words are grouped into s, l, and n. In words or the names directly indicate the beginning of the letter can blend. Most of the teachers who would succeed in this final consonant blending can help children to practice engaging activities and also games.
| Final Blend | Example Words |
| NG | Swing, King, Flung, Lung, Stung, Sing, Bang, Bring, Cling, Clang, Ging, Fang, Fling, Hang, Long, Hung, Strong, Ring, Sang, Song, Sting, |
| Nk | Link, Blink, Drink, Shrink, Blank, Clank, Drank, Bunk, Shrunk, Sink, Sank, Think, Wink, Skunk, Hunk, Tank, Frank, Ink, Junk, PInk, Plank |
| FT | Raft, Craft, Draft, Theft, Left, Heft, Shift, Gift, Lift, Soft, Tuft, |
| LD | Bald, Held, Should, Could, Would, Scald, Weld, Gild, Old, Bold, Cold, Fold, Hold, Mould, Scold, Gold, Bold |
| LF | Alf, Elf, Calf, Self, Wolf, Golf, Shelf |
| LP | Alp, Help, Kelp, Gulp, Pulp |
| LT | Belt, Bolt, Knelt, Melt, Felt, Dealt, Result, Insult, Revolt, Salt, Halt, Built, Vault, Tilt, Fault |
| MP | Lamp, Camp, Stamp, Cramp, Revamp, Jump, Pump, Limp, Tamp |
| ND | Hand, Land, Sand, Hound, Sound, Pond, Fond, Wind, Wand, FInd, Kind, Bond, Bend, Band, Send, Fund |
| NT | Ant, Want, Sent, Sent, Tent, Lent, Pant, Mint, Hint, Print, Vent, Font, Gaunt, Taunt, Paint |
Teachers can download the following image to use in their class.
Keep exploring EnglishBix to learn more about blends and digraphs.