Mot-valise, meaning 'word-suitcase' in French, describes the linguistic phenomenon of blending two words to form a new one, like 'franglais' (French and English). While English speakers refer to this as a portmanteau, the term mot-valise specifically evokes its French roots. Its origin can be traced back to Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking Glass,' where a portmanteau word contains two meanings. The plural is mots-valises, exemplifying how language evolves over time and adapts to cultural influences, as shown by examples like 'Twictée' combining Twitter and dictation.
The term mot-valise refers to words that are combined to create a new meaning, such as 'Brexit' and 'bromance'. In English, these are called portmanteaus.
Mot-valise, meaning 'word-suitcase' in French, illustrates the blending of two words to form a new term, reflecting the evolution of language and culture.
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