Vocabulary · lesson 16 of 30 · free

Compound words — Vocabulary words for kids

A compound word is made by joining two whole words: tooth + brush = toothbrush, rain + bow = rainbow. Often the two parts give a clue to the meaning — a classroom is a room for a class.

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Word tip

Two whole words — “a compound word is two real words joined into one”

  1. Split the word into two parts — each part must be a real word on its own (foot + ball).
  2. To make one, find the second word that joins with the first to make a real word: snow + man = snowman.
  3. Words like teacher (teach + er) or quickly (quick + ly) end in a suffix, so they are not compound words.

Use it for: Spelling and word-building exercises, reading long words by splitting them, and word games.

Worked example: Make a compound word: butter + ___ → fly

  1. Try each word after “butter” and see which makes a real word.
  2. butter + fly = butterfly.

Check: “butterfly” is a real word; “butterpen” and “butterchair” are not ✓

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✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

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🏁 Lesson 16 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

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🖨️ Compound Words Worksheet

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