Compound words list kindergarten

150 Examples of Compound Words for Kids – TurtleDiary.com

Compound words are formed when two or more words are joined together to create a new word that has an entirely new meaning.

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For example, “sun” and “flower” are two different words, but when fused together, they form another word, Sunflower. These words are formed by either adding a hyphen or just using the two words as a single term.  The spelling of the two words is not necessarily changed when they are joined together, but the definition becomes unique.

Consider the words “make up” and “makeup”. This is a more advanced example of a compound word because the resulting combination is a homonym and can be used in more than one way.

Make up your mind fast.

My makeup was ruined by the rain!

I have a makeup exam tomorrow.

In the first sentence, make up is a verb. In the second sentence, makeup is used as a noun.  In the third sentence, we see makeup as an adjective describing “exam.”

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words;

1. Closed Compound words: These words are written as a single word, such as haircut, newspaper, grandmother, etc.
2. Open Compounds: Compound words that are written as separate words such as high school, living room, school bus, etc.
3. Hyphenated Compounds: Words that use a hyphen in between two words, such as well-known, second-rate, merry-go-round, etc.

Fun ways to teach Compound Words

Every child has a different way of learning. What works for one may not work for another so we have created these fun ways to teach your kid compound words. Choose the best activity that tailors to your kid’s learning style.

• Visual learning style – Prepare flashcards, half with words and half with pictures. Have your child lay them out in grid style and flip two cards over at a time. The goal is to find a word and a picture to create a compound word. Students will have to use their memory to succeed at this game.
• Kinesthetic learning style- Give students a compound word and have them draw the two “parts” of the compound word. For example, for “doghouse” a kid would draw a dog and a house.
• Help the kids make compound word daisies. Have them write a word in the middle of the paper flower and ask them to write compound words that utilize the word on the petals.

Once your students know the basics of compounds, you can help them move onto more difficult words.

Practice with these 150 examples of compound words:

1. Airplane
2. Airport
3. Angelfish
4. Antfarm
5. Ballpark
6. Beachball
7. Bikerack
8. Billboard
9. Blackhole
10. Blueberry
11. Boardwalk
12. Bodyguard
13. Bookstore
14. Bow Tie
15. Brainstorm
16. Busboy
17. Cabdriver
18. Candlestick
19. Car wash
20. Cartwheel
21. Catfish
22. Caveman
23. Chocolate chip
24. Crossbow
25. Daydream
26. Deadend
27. Doghouse
28. Dragonfly
29. Dress shoes
30. Dropdown
31. Earlobe
32. Earthquake
33. Eyeballs
34. Father-in-law
35. Fingernail
36. Firecracker
37. Firefighter
38. Firefly
39. Firework
40. Fishbowl
41. Fisherman
42. Fishhook
43. Football
44. Forget
45. Forgive
46. French fries
47. Goodnight
48. Grandchild
49. Groundhog
50. Hairband
51. Hamburger
52. Handcuff
53. Handout
54. Handshake
55. Headband
56. Herself
57. High heels
58. Honeydew
59. Hopscotch
60. Horseman
61. Horseplay
62. Hotdog
63. Ice cream
64. Itself
65. Kickball
66. Kickboxing
67. Laptop
68. Lifetime
69. Lighthouse
70. Mailman
71. Midnight
72. Milkshake
73. Moonrocks
74. Moonwalk
75. Mother-in-law
76. Movie theater
77. Newborn
78. Newsletter
79. Newspaper
80. Nightlight
81. Nobody
82. Northpole
83. Nosebleed
84. Outer space
85. Over-the-counter
86. Overestimate
87. Paycheck
88. Policeman
89. Ponytail
90. Post card
91. Racquetball
92. Railroad
93. Rainbow
94. Raincoat
95. Raindrop
96. Rattlesnake
97. Rockband
98. Rocketship
99. Rowboat
100. Sailboat
101. Schoolbooks
102. Schoolwork
103. Shoelace
104. Showoff
105. Skateboard
106. Snowball
107. Snowflake
108. Softball
109. Solar system
110. Soundproof
111. Spaceship
112. Spearmint
113. Starfish
114. Starlight
115. Stingray
116. Strawberry
117. Subway
118. Sunglasses
119. Sunroof
120. Supercharge
121. Superman
122. Superstar
123. Tablespoon
124. Tailbone
125. Tailgate
126. Take down
127. Takeout
128. Taxpayer
129. Teacup
130. Teammate
131. Teaspoon
132. Tennis shoes
133. Throwback
134. Timekeeper
135. Timeline
136. Timeshare
137. Tugboat
138. Tupperware
139. Underestimate
140. Uplift
141. Upperclassman
142. Uptown
143. Video game
144. Wallflower
145. Waterboy
146. Watermelon
147. Wheelchair
148. Without
149. Workboots
150. Worksheet

150+ Examples Of Compound Words For Kids

Compound words for kids are designed by combining two simpler words to form one complex word. An example of this would be mail + box = mailbox. We often use compound words without realizing they consist of two different, simpler words.

What are compound words?

When asking, “what are compound words?” we need to look at the utility of compound words in modern language. They describe complex ideas or objects that can be represented by combining two simpler words. For example, the words seashell and seashore are compound words that have derivatives in sea, shell, and shore.

We use compound words to make sense of new phrases, objects, phenomena, and events. They are highly flexible by design and can be used to describe a large number of things.

You can teach your students to use compound words through a compound words list for kids and compound words examples to get them to learn the construct effectively.

Let’s check out different types of compound words and some examples you can teach your students to help them understand compound words better for optimal reading. You can also use these examples of compound words to make stories and quiz your students in larger texts.

What are the types of compound words for kids?

Now that we have explored a comprehensive list of compound words for kids, let us understand what are the types of compound words that students should know and understand. You can focus on the utility of compound words to help students learn them better.

1. Closed compound words

This is a classic example of compound words, wherein two words come together to form a completely new type of word. An example of this would be, moon + light = moonlight or base + ball = baseball. You can focus on how these words are used extensively across literary works across reading levels.

2. Open compound words

When a modifying adjective is added to a noun to create a new noun, that is an open compound word. An example of this would be store + room = storeroom. You can focus on how open compound words are used when writing sentences and describing objects.

Words like father-in-law or well-known are hyphenated compound words as they are formed with a hyphen combining two words. They retain some of their original contextual meaning through hyphenation, giving readers clarity about their meaning.

By understanding the different types of compound words, you can teach your students to be better readers and writers in the English language. You can also focus on innovative teaching methods to better explain compound words to students. You can leverage unique strategies to make compound words intuitive for kids of all ages.

Let’s look at 150 examples of compound words for kids

Compound words come in all variations, making them an important topic to focus on as kids progress from grade to grade. You can use these 150 examples of compound words to teach kids about the subject area within your own lesson plan.

After + Noon = Afternoon

Air + Plane = Airplane

Air + Port = Airport

Angel + Fish = Angelfish

Any + Body = Anybody

Any + One = Anyone

Arm + Chair = Armchair

Arm + Pit = Armpit

Basket + Ball = Basketball

Bath + Tub = Bathtub

Bed + Room = Bedroom

Birth + Place = Birthplace

Blue + Berry = Blueberry

Body + Guard = Bodyguard

Book + Store = Bookstore

Brain + Storm = Brainstorm

Bull + Frog = Bullfrog

Bus + Boy = Busboy

Butter + Fly = Butterfly

Cab + Driver = Cabdriver

Can + Not = Cannot

Candle + Stick = Candlestick

Cat + Fish = Catfish

Cave + Man = Caveman

Cross + Bow = Crossbow

Cross + Walk = Crosswalk

Day + Break = Daybreak

Day + Dream = Daydream

Day + Light = Daylight

Desk + Top = Desktop

Dog + House = Doghouse

Door + Bell = Doorbell

Door + Mat = Doormat

Down + Hill = Downhill

Dragon + Fly = Dragonfly

Drop + Down = Dropdown

Dust + Bin = Dustbin

Every + Thing = Everything

Extra + Curricular = Extracurricular

Eye + Ball = Eyeball

Eye + Brow = Eyebrow

Finger + Nail = Fingernail

Fire + Cracker = Firecracker

Fish + Bowl = Fishbowl

Fisher + Man = Fisherman

Foot + Ball = Football

Foot + Path = Footpath

Foot + Step = Footstep

Gold + Fish = Goldfish

Good + Night = Goodnight

Grand + Father = Grandfather

Grass + Hopper = Grasshopper

Ground + Hog = Groundhog

Hard + Ship = Hardship

Head + Band = Headband

Home + Town = Hometown

Honey + Dew = Honeydew

Hop + Scotch = Hopscotch

Horse + Play = Horseplay

Hot + Dog = Hotdog

In + Side = Inside

It + Self = Itself

Key + Board = Keyboard

Lay + Out = Layout

Lay + Over = Layover

Life + Time = Lifetime

Light + House = Lighthouse

Lip + Stick = Lipstick

Mail + Box = Mailbox

Merry + Go + Round = Merry-Go-Round

Mid + Night = Midnight

Milk + Shake = Milkshake

Mind + Set = Mindset

Moon + Light = Moonlight

Mother + In + Law = Mother-In-Law

Mother + Land = Motherland

Name + Sake = Namesake

Neck + Tie = Necktie

Needle + Point = Needlepoint

New + Born = Newborn

News + Letter = Newsletter

News + Paper = Newspaper

Ninety + Nine = Ninety-Nine

No + Body = Nobody

Nose + Bleed = Nosebleed

Note + Book = Notebook

Note + Worthy = Noteworthy

Out + Side = Outside

Over + Estimate = Overestimate

Pepper + Mint = Peppermint

Pillow + Case = Pillowcase 

Pony + Tail = Ponytail

Pop + Corn = Popcorn

Race + Horse = Racehorse

Rail + Road = Railroad

Rain + Bow = Rainbow

Rain + Coat = Raincoat

Rain + Storm = Rainstorm

Rain + Drop = Raindrop

Row + Boat = Rowboat

Run + Way = Runway

Safe + Guard = Safeguard 

Safe + House = Safehouse

Salt + Water = Saltwater 

Scare + Crow = Scarecrow

School + House = Schoolhouse

Short + Term = Short-Term

Show + Lace = Shoelace

Skate + Board = Skateboard

Smart + Phone = Smartphone

Snow + Storm = Snowstorm

Soft + Ball = Softball

Some + Where = Somewhere

Sound + Proof = Soundproof

Space + Ship = Spaceship

Spear + Mint = Spearmint

Stair + Case = Staircase

Star + Fish = Starfish

Star + Light = Starlight

Sting + Ray = Stingray

Straw + Berry = Strawberry

Sub + Way = Subway

Sun + Burn = Sunburn

Sun + Flower = Sunflower

Sun + Glasses = Sunglasses

Sun + Ray = Sunray

Sun + Roof = Sunroof

Sun + Shine = Sunshine

Super + Man = Superman

Super + Star = Superstar

Table + Spoon = Tablespoon

Tad + Pole = Tadpole

Tail + Bone = Tailbone

Take + Out = Takeout

Tea + Cup = Teacup

Tea + Spoon = Teaspoon

Text + Book = Textbook

Throw + Back = Throwback

Thunder + Storm = Thunderstorm

Tooth + Brush = Toothbrush

Tooth + Paste = Toothpaste

Tug + Boat = Tugboat

Tupper + Ware = Tupperware

Two + Fold = Two-fold

Under + Ground = Underground

Up + Stream = Upstream

Upper + Class + Man = Upperclassman

Waste + Basket = Wastebasket

Water + Body = Waterbody

Water + Melon = Watermelon

Water + Proof = Waterproof

Wheel + Chair = Wheelchair

With + Out = Without

Work + Boats = Workboats

Work + Sheet = Worksheet

You can also take advantage of the online games available through SplashLearn to teach through gamified learning.

Check out our extensive library of amazing reading games you can play with your students!

Exploring fun ways of teaching compound words to kids

Teachers should look for two essential elements when explaining compound words to students; you should remember to explain that compound words can have new meanings when connecting two smaller words.

You should also clarify that complex words can be three words coming together to form a new word. Compound words can be multi-syllable, but not all multi-syllable words are compound words. This should help kids understand what they are without feeling confused.

Compound words for kids can be complicated to pick up through verbal instructions alone. You can focus on games, puzzles, toys, and exercises to get kids to understand the utility and versatility of compound words.

By reading through books and short stories, your students may already be familiar with, you can ask kids to identify compound words within the text. This will help them understand why we use compound words in English and how they impact contextualization and structuring.

You can make poems and songs on compound words and use songs to help kids enjoy learning about compound words naturally. You can also bring props to demonstrate which words are compound words and which aren’t. 

You can print out compound words on paper in a nice bold font and have your students cut in the middle of the compound word to create two words. If your students understand compound words correctly, they should be able to cut the compound word’s original root words.

You can play a game with your students to help them understand compound words better. By giving them two options and asking them to figure out whether they are compound words or not, you can test their abilities organically. You can also provide references and compound word list examples.

You can prepare a deck of single words printed onto cards and present them to your classroom. They need to match the correct pairs together to form a compound word. You can also do this activity with hyphenated words by giving them extra cards representing a dash.

This gives your students a kinesthetic way of learning about compound words through painting. Your students can paint out the compound word based on the prompt shared with them. E.g., they can be given sun + screen, and they must draw a tube of sunscreen.

Related Reading: How Can Teachers Help English Language Learners

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Can you use flashcards to teach compound words ?

Yes, flashcards are an effective way to teach compound words to kids. You can print them out as a teaching tool when exploring complex compound words.

Why do kids need to learn compound words?

The etymology and utility of compound words are essential to teaching kids to make them more comfortable with speaking, understanding, writing, and listening to the English language.

How to introduce compound words to young kids?

You can introduce compound words to kids through multiple strategies, such as with toys, props, storytelling, and games.

Speech therapy lesson for the preparatory group of the kindergarten “Auction. Learn difficult words.

Speech therapist Shatunova Elena Aleksandrovna

MBDOU combined type kindergarten No. 39

Program content:

Learn to distinguish complex words from poems and pure phrases by ear.

Develop the ability to recognize words by their interpretation.

Exercise in independent formation of complex words with the help of key words. Strengthen the ability to divide complex words into two parts.

Enrich children's active vocabulary, teach them to use complex words in speech. Expand the experience of conscious analysis of linguistic material.

Cultivate the ability to listen to each other's answers.

Vocabulary work: lumberjack, fisherman, birder, snake-catcher, beekeeper, gardener, dog breeder, digger, chimney sweep, plumber, steamer, moonship, motor ship, scooter, snowmobile, shrew, fire extinguisher, mousetrap, pedestrian, airplane, steam locomotive, dump truck, milk tanker , meat grinder, samovar, coffee maker, vacuum cleaner, leaf fall, waterfall, snowfall, ice drift, starfall, rhinoceros, water strider, centipede, tarantula, sweet tooth.

Equipment: 4 types of chips, a hammer, a book stand, 4 coloring books, simple pencils according to the number of children (incentive prizes).

Demonstration picture material: falling leaves, waterfall, snowfall, ice drift, starfall, meat grinder, samovar, coffee maker, vacuum cleaner, rhinoceros, water strider, centipede, tarantula, sweet tooth.

Progress of activities

The children enter the hall to soft music.

Speech therapist. We are pleased to welcome you to our hall. Today I invite you to take part in the "Learn difficult words" auction. Let me remind you that all the things that you can purchase are called lots. Coloring books will be raffled off at our auction. They will be given to those who are better than others knows difficult words. For each correct answer, a chip is awarded. After each lot, we count the chips, whoever has the most gets the coloring book.

I will find words everywhere...

Both in the sky and in the water,

On the floor, on the ceiling,

On the nose and on the arm!

Have you heard of this?

It doesn't matter, we play with the word.

The first lot is drawn

Hit with a hammer 1 time.

Speech therapist. The first lot is a coloring book…. (reads title).

Anyone who recognizes a word by its interpretation can receive it.

- Who cuts the wood? (Lumberjack)

- Who is fishing? (Fisherman)

- Who catches the birds? (Bird-catcher)

- Who catches the snakes? (Zmeelov)

- Who breeds bees? (Beekeeper)

- Who tends the gardens? (Gardener)

- Who breeds dogs? (dog breeder)

- Who digs the earth? (Digger)

- Who cleans the pipes? (Chimney sweep)

- Who conducts the water? (Plumber)

Speech therapist. Questions of the first lot are over. We count chips.

Speech therapist taps with a hammer 3 times.

Speech therapist. The coloring book is leaving ... (child's name).

The coloring book is given to the winner.

The second lot is raffled off

Taps the hammer 1 time.

Speech therapist. The second lot is a coloring book…. (reads title).

The one who combines two words into one compound word can get it.

"Steam" and "walks" (Steamboat)

“Moon” and “walks” (Lunokhod)

“Heat” and “walks” (Motor ship)

“Snow” and “walks” (Snowmobile)

“On foot” and “walks” (Pedestrian)

“Sam” and “rolls” (Scooter)

“Earth” and “digs” (Shrew)

“Fire” and “extinguishes” (Fire extinguisher)

“Mouse” and “catches” (Mousetrap)

“Sam "and" flies "(Airplane)

"Steam" and "carries" (Steam locomotive)

"Sam" and "dumps" (Dump truck)

"Milk" and "carries" (Milk carrier)

Speech therapist. Questions of the second lot are over. We count chips.

Speech therapist taps with a hammer 3 times.

Speech therapist. The coloring book is leaving ... (child's name).

The coloring book is given to the winner.

Fizminutka

There are different words: Hands on the belt. Turns left and right.

Funny, funny,

Simple and serious

And very, very complex. Throw with the index finger of the right hand.

Leaf fall is a flying word. Fluttering movements of the hands from top to bottom.

Snowfall is a brilliant word. "Lanterns".

Starfall is a sparkling word. Raising your hands up, open your fist with force.

Waterfall is a wet word. Shake off the "drops of water" with the hands.

Ice drift is a floating word. Wave-like movements of the palms.

Rhino is a powerful word. Bend your arms to your shoulders, fingers clenched into a fist.

Water strider is a moving word. Move forward and backward with palms down.

Vacuum cleaner is a buzzing word. Imitation of a vacuum cleaner with sound: woo.

Samovar is a puffing word. Spring, hands on the belt: puff-puff-puff.

A sweet tooth - the word is crunchy! Snaps of the fingers: хр-хр-хр.

The third lot is drawn

Taps the hammer 1 time.

Speech therapist. The third lot is a coloring book.... (reads title).

The one who can divide the word into two parts will receive it.

Show demo pictures.

- Leaf fall - leaves fall.

- Waterfall - water falls.

- Snowfall - snow is falling.

- Starfall - the stars are falling.

- Ice drift - ice floats on the river.

- Vacuum cleaner - sucks dust.

- Meat grinder - minces meat.

- Coffee maker - coffee brews.

- Samovar - cooks himself.

- Sweet tooth - eats sweets.

- Rhino - a horn on the nose.

- Centipede - forty legs.

- Water strider - measures water.

- Tarantula spider - eats birds.

Speech therapist. Tasks of the third lot completed. We count chips.

Speech therapist taps with a hammer 3 times.

Speech therapist. The coloring book is awarded to ... (child's name).

The coloring book is given to the winner.

Speech therapist. Guys, we have named a lot of complex words, but who will tell me what compound words are? (children's answers)

The fourth lot is drawn

Knocks with a hammer 1 time.

Speech therapist. The fourth lot is a coloring book…. (reads title).

It can be received by the one who names a compound word that is hidden in a poem or in a tongue twister .

Falling leaves, falling leaves!

Our garden is crumbling!

Leaves fly in the wind,

Rustle underfoot.

My scooter broke down,

I brought it home.

It's a pity to leave -

Nothing to ride.

Children have Raya today

I took away the plane,

Teddy bear, parrot,

Locomotive and steamer.

Car transports milk

To city shops.

Milk carrier

I brought it to kindergarten in the morning.

Aty-bats, soldiers were walking,

Aty-bats, to the market,

Aty-bats, what did you buy?

Aty-baty, samovar.

The fisherman catches the fish,

The whole catch floated into the river.

Speech therapist: All compound words of the fourth lot were found. We count chips.

Speech therapist taps with a hammer 3 times.

Speech therapist: The coloring book is awarded to ... (child's name).

The coloring book is given to the winner.

Speech therapist: The auction "Learn difficult words" has completed its work. Auction winners ... (list the names of the children).

But, the other guys did a good job today - they answered the questions correctly, called a lot of compound words . Therefore, you are also awarded incentive prizes.

MBDOU Kindergarten No. 15 in Murmansk. Average age (4-5 years)

Object words: traffic, road, sidewalk, crossing, traffic light, stop, street, crossroads, accident, policeman, traffic controller, staff, whistle. Land transport: car, bus, tram, trolleybus, truck, van, taxi, motorcycle, bicycle.

Description words: road, pedestrian, police. Action words: observe, cross, violate, regulate, follow, leave, drive in, drive up, drive around, drive through, arrive.

Purpose: to consolidate the ability to form and use relative adjectives.

- Rubber wheel. It (what?) ... (rubber).

- Machine door made of metal. She (what?) ... (metal).

- Plastic steering wheel. He (what?) ... (plastic).

- Leather seat. It (what?) ... (leather).

- Rubber rod. He (what?) ... (rubber).

- Iron stop. She (what?) ... (iron).

- Plastic whistle. He (what?) ... (plastic).

- Glass headlights. They (what?) ... (glass).

Purpose: the formation of relative adjectives.

Car tire (what?) - car

Bus ticket (what?) - bus

Car oil (what?) - machine.

Tram, bus, trolley bus stop (what?) - tram, etc.

An adult pronounces a phrase, children add the last word: “permitted” or “forbidden”.

Walk on the sidewalk... (permitted)!

Crossing the road in front of nearby traffic... (forbidden)!

Crossing the street at a red traffic light... (forbidden)!

Help the elderly to cross the street...(allowed)!

Walking around a stopped bus in front... (prohibited)!

Run out onto the road. .. (prohibited)!

Respect traffic rules... (permitted)!

Moved away from home - drove up to the house;

drove up the hill - ... ,

left the garage - ... ,

flew away on a plane - ... ,

- sailed away on a boat.

Traffic light - traffic light, pedestrian, road, street, sidewalk, house.

Road - roads, sidewalk, crossing, traffic light, stop, street, intersection, accident

One intersection, two (three, four) intersections, five intersections traffic light, stop, street

There are traffic lights -

Obey them without... (Dispute!)

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