portmanteau

/pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/

//pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"portmanteau" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“portmanteau” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #49,563. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#49,563
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A large travelling case usually made of leather, and opening into two equal sections.

Key facts for portmanteau
PropertyValue
Headwordportmanteau
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/
Letters11
Frequency rank#49,563
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “portmanteau” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). portmanteau lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around portmanteau (IPA /pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #49,563 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for portmanteau, with forms such as "oprtmanteau", "pormtanteau", and "porrtmanteau". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French portemanteau (“coat stand”), from porte (“carries”, third-person singular present indicative of porter (“to carry”)) + manteau (“coat”), literally “[that which] carries coat”. The correct English form is portmanteau, spelled P-O-R-T-M-A-N-T-E-A-U.

Definition

  1. 1
    A large travelling case usually made of leather, and opening into two equal sections.
  2. 2
    A schoolbag.
  3. 3
    A hook on which to hang clothing.

Etymology

From Middle French portemanteau (“coat stand”), from porte (“carries”, third-person singular present indicative of porter (“to carry”)) + manteau (“coat”), literally “[that which] carries coat”.

This word in other languages

maleta(Español)portemanteau(Français)Koffer(Deutsch)maleta(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • oprtmanteau
  • pormtanteau
  • porrtmanteau
  • portamnteau
  • portmanetau
  • portmannteau
  • portmantaeu
  • portmanteua
  • portmantteau
  • portmatneau
  • portmmanteau
  • portmnateau
  • porttmanteau
  • potrmanteau
  • pportmanteau
  • protmanteau

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of portmanteau - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

oprtmanteau2pormtanteau2porrtmanteau1portamnteau2portmanetau2portmannteau1portmantaeu2portmanteua2
Edit distance from "portmanteau"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "portmanteau"?
"portmanteau" is spelled P-O-R-T-M-A-N-T-E-A-U. The IPA pronunciation is /pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/.
What does "portmanteau" mean?
As a noun, "portmanteau" means: A large travelling case usually made of leather, and opening into two equal sections.
What are common misspellings of "portmanteau"?
Common misspellings include "oprtmanteau", "pormtanteau", "porrtmanteau", "portamnteau", "portmanetau". The correct spelling is "portmanteau".
How do you pronounce "portmanteau"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "portmanteau" is /pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "portmanteau"?
From Middle French portemanteau (“coat stand”), from porte (“carries”, third-person singular present indicative of porter (“to carry”)) + manteau (“coat”), literally “[that which] carries coat”. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “portmanteau”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-O-R-T-M-A-N-T-E-A-U - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pɔːtˈmæn.təʊ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list