"Launderama" where did it come from? Hello, everyone! :) I'll be happy if you can help me. My question is about the a place where you can go to wash your clothes. As far as I'm concerned, there are t

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Elena

"Launderama" where did it come from? Hello, everyone! :) I'll be happy if you can help me. My question is about the a place where you can go to wash your clothes. As far as I'm concerned, there are two words to name that place: 1) Laundromat 2) Launderette But where did the word "Launderama" come from? I heard it in "Friends" and found a lot of pictures of bildings with the sign of "Launderama" on the Internet. I'm confused, because I can't find "Launderama" in any English Dictionary. And I can't understand why Rachel (from "Friends") used "Launderama". I can suppose that it's just a combination of two words "Laundry" and "Melodrama". I'll be waiting for your explanations :) Thank all of you in advance for your answers! :)

Apr 26, 2020 12:17 PM

Answers · 7

-orama and -arama are suffixes. More information: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-orama [excerpt] Tacking an -orama on the end of an existing word is a fine way to impart, in jovial fashion, that something is of a particularly extravagant [end excerpt] A google search will show a number of businesses called foodarama, shoparama, bowlarama, and so forth.

April 26, 2020

It's a trade name. 'Launderama' a typical business name that a self-service laundry might give itself. In other words, it's a proper noun, like 'Laundry Heaven' or 'Wash-U-Like', as opposed to a common noun like 'launderette' or 'laundromat'.

April 26, 2020

It is possibly a play on words with the name of this kids' television show that was on the air in New York City: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderama

April 26, 2020

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