what name is given to combination words like motel and brunch
The name for words like motel and brunch is portmanteau. They’re also called blended words , because they blend parts of two words into one new word.
Examples
- motel = motor + hotel
- brunch = breakfast + lunch
Quick note
A compound word is different: it usually joins whole words together, like “toothbrush,” while a portmanteau fuses parts of words.
TL;DR: motel and brunch are portmanteaus, also known as blended words.[1][3]