You probably also know that a motel (an inexpensive place to sleep) is a blend of the words motor + hotel . Likewise, smog (the dirty air in a large city) comes from smoke + fog.

These are called portmanteau words, a combination of two words to create a new meaning. Another common word is brunch (the meal eaten at 10 or 11 AM). It comes from breakfast + lunch.

Technology has added many portmanteau words to English. Perhaps the most famous of these are e-mail (electronic + mail) and blog (a periodically published online column) from web + log.

The word portmanteau comes from British author Louis Carroll, who invented many words in his own writing. The word portmanteau itself is a combination of two French words: porter (to carry) + manteau (a coat or cloak).

Here are a few portmanteau words that most English speakers would know:

• netiquette (Internet + etiquette) = rules of behavior for the World Wide Web

• infomercial (information + commercial) = a long, story-like video on tv that advertises a product or service

• humongous (huge + enormous) = very large [emphatic expression]

• spork (spoon + fork) = a utensil that can either scoop or stab your food

Below are additional portmanteau words to help you be more fluent in English:

podcast (iPod + broadcast) = programming that can be downloading to an MP3 player
webinar (web + seminar) = taking a class on your computer
breathalyzer (breath + analyzer) = breath test to see if you are too drunk to drive
e-zine (electronic + magazine) = a magazine that arrives via email
wi-fi (wireless + fidelity) = system allowing internet browsing without cables
carjack = (car + hijack) = taking someoneâ€™s car away from them (under threat)
Ebonics (ebony + phonics) = the spoken dialect of black U.S. Americans
gaydar (gay + radar) = the social sensitivity to guess if someone is gay
dumbfound (dumb + confounded) = to be so surprised as to be speechless
guesstimate (guess + estimate) = an approximation, an imprecise estimate
emoticon (emotion + icon) = keyboard symbols showing how a writer feels

*emoticon for regret (source: Fotolia.com)*

glitzy (glitter + ritzy) = fancy, showy, flashy
flounder (founder + blunder) = to be clumsy and confused
glitzy (glitter + ritzy) = fancy, showy, flashy
hassle (harass + tussle) = to bother, struggle with, or cause someone trouble
snarky (snide + remark) = making critical or arrogant comments
murse (man + purse) = a leather bag carried by a man
murse (male + nurse) = a man in a nursing position
sexting (sex + texting) = sending sexual messages or images via text messages
televangelist (television + evangelist) = religious person who recruits you on TV
gerrymander (Gerry + salamander) = revising boundaries of voting districts for the advantage of one political party
sitcom (situation + comedy) = a humorous serial TV show based on everyday life