List of compound words for kids

List of Compound Words for Kids in English With Examples

• What Are Compound Words?
• How Are Compound Words Formed?
• Types of Compound Words With Examples For Kids
• How To Identify Compound Words?
• List of Compound Words For Kids
• Simple Examples Of Compound Words For Kids
• Compound Word Sentences For Kids
• Easy Ways And Fun Activities To Teach Compound Words To Kids

Covering the basics of the English language from an early age is necessary to make kids proficient in English. Once kids form a strong foundation in the English language, they can easily excel in their academics, as all their subjects are taught in English. One important aspect of English is the type of words, especially compound words in English. Knowing English well is necessary not only for studies but in daily life too. When kids use compound words to express themselves, they create a favourable impression on their teachers or peers. Using easy compound words shows their command of the English language. So, let’s learn compound words and how best to teach your child these words!

What Are Compound Words?

Before we start to teach kids compound words, let us first understand what is the meaning of compound words. Compound words are words formed by compounding or grouping two words. So, two English words are joined to form a new word: a compound word. The new compound word has an entirely new and individual meaning different from the two words it is made up of.

Source: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f2/b8/21/f2b82157795f8b53a8169e64a520a22c.jpg

How Are Compound Words Formed?

Now that we know what compound words are, let’s learn how are they created or formed. As the English language changed with time, compound words were included to name new things. Sometimes when two words are often spoken or written in association, people start to use them together. Compound words were also created by making a new word from such closely associated words. However, through this process, compound words are first formed for speech and then later used in writing—for example, the compound word notebook. Note and book are often used in association. So it’s no wonder soon they are combined to create the word notebook. Sometimes, compound words are formed to bridge a gap in the English language, like the word football. It was developed using words- foot and ball, two things used to play the game.

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Types of Compound Words With Examples For Kids

We now know what are compound words and how are they created. Now, it’s time to understand compound words and its types. An important fact is compound words don’t need to be made up of only two words. Sometimes, a compound word can be formed by using more than two words.

Let’s know the types of compound words with examples for kids:

1. Closed Compound words

These types of compound words are the most popular and recognised. They are formed by using smaller words to make a new large word without any space between the words. A few closed compound words examples are:

• Railroad
• Waistcoat
• Sunflower
• Mailbox

2. Open Compound Words

These compound words are written with a space in between the two words used to form them. Despite the space between the words, they are still considered as a single compound word. A few Open compound words examples are:

• Full moon
• Ice cream
• Living room
• Hot dog

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

These compound words are formed like open compound words. However, unlike the open compound words, they don’t have space in between the words but have a hyphen. A few hyphenated compound words examples are:

• Long-term
• Good-hearted
• Check-in
• Mother-in-law

How To Identify Compound Words?

The English language has many types of words. And sometimes, one can get confused between words, as many multi-syllable words may seem like compound words but are not. To identify compound words, you can break the word down, and if you are able to get individual or separate and meaningful words after breaking, then it’s a compound word; otherwise, not.

List of Compound Words For Kids

Compound words for class 1, 2 and 3 kids can be a bit tough to understand and learn. Here is a list of compound words for kids:

Simple Examples Of Compound Words For Kids

We understand that a compound word is formed by joining two or more words. To identify a compound word, we can split it into separate meaningful words. Compound words can be formed by combining nouns with nouns, adjectives with nouns,  or nouns with adverbs, prepositions, and verbs. To understand this, let’s see some simple examples of compound words for kids.

1. Noun-Noun Compound Words 

Examples of compound nouns are:

• Sun, Flower = Sunflower
• Cup, Cake = Cupcake
• Rain, Bow = Rainbow
• Snow, Man = Snowman

2. Adjective-Noun Compound Words 

Examples of adjectives with Noun compound words are:

• Black, Board = Blackboard
• Full, Moon = Fullmoon
• Green, House = Greenhouse
• Sweet, Heart = Sweetheart
• Common, Room = Common room

3. Noun-Adjective Compound Words 

Examples of Nouns with adjectives compound words are:

• Sugar, Free = Sugar-Free
• Lap, Top = Laptop
• Heart, Broken = Heartbroken
• Life, Long = Lifelong
• Home, Sick Homesick

4. Verb-Noun Compound Words 

Examples of Verbs with Noun Compound words are:

• Living, Room = Living Room
• Swimming, Pool Swimming Pool
• Driving, License = Driving License
• Bath, Room = Bathroom
• Note, Book = Notebook

Compound Word Sentences For Kids

Some compound word sentences for kids are:

• Michael, did you go to the bathroom?
• This is the first snowfall of the season.
• Why do you have a bodyguard?
• I am going to the bookstore.
• Rohit is practising cartwheels in the playground.

Easy Ways And Fun Activities To Teach Compound Words To Kids

Here are some easy ways and fun activities to teach compound words to kids:

1. Flashcards

Kids learn best with visual aids such as flashcards. You can teach them good compound words through flashcards of different words and pictures. Then test their compounding examples knowledge through flashcard games.

What You Need 

• Flashcards with words
• Flashcards with pictures

Instructions

1. Keep the flashcards with words face down.
2. Keep the flashcards with pictures facing up.
3. Ask the kids to flip a word flashcard one at a time and match it with a picture flashcard to form a compound word. For example – the word Blue with the picture of Berries will make the word blueberries.
4. The kid who makes maximum compound words wins.

2. Match the cards

In this easy compound words activity, you can ask the kids to make the simple word cards and then choose the cards to make compound words.

What You Need  

• Index cards /paper slips
• Markers

Instructions 

1. First, ask the kids to write simple words on the index cards or paper slips. You can help them with the word selection.
2. Ask them to keep all the cards face down.
3. At one time, a kid can flip two cards and make compound words.
4. The kids will need to remember the cards to form words.
5. The kid who makes maximum compound words wins the game.

3. Draw and guess

All kids will love this hands-on activity.

What You Need 

• A black or whiteboard
• Markers or chalks
• List of compound words

Instructions

1. Divide the kids into two teams.
2. Give a compound word to one team.
3. One kid from that team will draw the pictures of the word for the other team to guess. For example – you give the word treehouse so that the kid will draw a tree and a house.
4. The other team must guess the compound word from the pictures.
5. The team that guesses the maximum correct compound words wins.

4. Guess the word

Modify the classic dumb charades into a compound words game.

What You Need 

• List of compound words

Instructions 

1. Divide the kids into two teams.
2. Give a compound word to one kid from a team.
3. The Kid will act out the compound word by breaking it into separate words. For example – you give the word snowman. Now the kid will act out snow and man separately for its team to guess.
4. The team that guesses the maximum words wins.

5. Compound word creation

Compound words for kindergarten kids can be a bit tricky to learn. This activity is ideal for young kids.

What You Need 

• Index cards
• Markers
• List of compound words

Instructions 

1. Separate the compound words into smaller words.
2. Help your child write each small word on an Index card.
3. Now, make your kid match the cards to make a compound word and read it aloud with them.
4. This will help them to memorise and learn the words.

When teaching compound words, remember that all kids have different learning styles and paces. Some kids can understand compound words quickly, and for some kids, it takes a bit of time. Engage them in fun activities and games to help them fully understand and learn compound words.

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.

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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.

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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.

Words for Kids Word Game: Fun Words List

July 14, 2022 July 14, 2022 tgames For children

What is a word game? For example, the 1st participant says "cow" ending in "A". So, the 2nd participant calls the word , starting with "A"; for example, "watermelon" and so on. For reflection - a few seconds, the losers are not determined here.

Compound words can be viewed here:

Words for word games for children under 5 years old

1. Butterfly
2. Orange
3. Pencil
4. Beetle
5. Grapes
6. Scissors
7. Lion cub
8. Ball
9. Umbrella
10. Duck
11. Cheese
12. Apple
13. Clothing
14. Mouse
15. Cheese
16. Flower
17. Glasses
18. Bread
19. Flag
20. Kettle
21. Bird
22. Brush
23. Pole
24. Cat
25. Rooster
26. Kefir
27. Spatula
28. Cube
29. Apricot
30. Boot

For children from 5 to 8 years old

1. Raccoon
2. Call
3. Spruce
4. Lemon
5. Hammer
6. Owl
7. Trumpeter
8. Chicken
9. Yacht
10. Bell
11. Stump
12. Cucumber
13. Pumpkin
14. Raisins
15. Snowman
16. Tiger
17. Sorrel
18. Bolt
19. Lesson
20. Glass
21. Pump
22. Chalk
23. Turnip
24. Bow
25. Penguin
26. Juggler
27. Hacksaw
28. Peanuts
29. Month
30. Cardboard

For older children

1. Ballet
2. Bell
3. Chisel
4. Badge
5. Peanut
6. Pod
7. Suit
8. Roller
9. Shoulder strap
10. Rhombus
11. Lamp
12. Switch
13. Marker
14. Cello
15. Bagel
16. Section
17. Hair
18. Strip
19. Slice
20. Receipt
21. South
22. Area
23. Date
24. Melody
25. Package
26. Post
27. Rope
28. Magnet
29. Rafinade
30. Nectar

Junior

1. Screwdriver
2. Yoga
3. Degree
4. Handle
5. Attraction
6. Skateboard
7. Monopoly
8. Repertoire
9. Lever
10. Sensor
11. Teak
12. Anime
13. Loader
14. Self-tapping screw
15. Camera
16. Lamp
17. Scooter
18. Barrenflower
19. Sheepskin coat
20. Sintepon
21. Glaze
22. Amethyst
23. Tarragon
24. Anchor
25. Clarinet
26. Catamaran
27. Agate
28. Bracelet
29. Mercury
30. Dome

Note: unpronounceable characters (b, b) at the end of a word are not considered; for example, the answer to the word "coal" will be a word with the letter L . In turn, you can equate the letters E / E and Y / I - in games for preschoolers and elementary school students.

Words with two roots (compound words) with separating e, o. Word list.

Two or even three words can form a new word. This way of forming new words is called addition, and the words themselves are called complex. To understand where the roots are in a complex word, you must first correctly determine its meaning. For example, a steamboat is not one that sails in pairs, but a ship that sails in pairs. Or a mousetrap is not a dexterous mouse, but a mouse trap.

There are words that look like compounds, but in fact they have only one root, and it clearly emerges after finding the meaning of the word. For example, yellowish is not yellow wool, but slightly yellow, the root is one (yellow), and ovate is a suffix. Or the greatest is not a great tea, but just a very great one.

Let's work on the definition of words with two roots

Vacuum cleaner: A machine for removing dust by sucking it in with a jet of air.

Rhinoceros: Large mammal of southern countries with one or two horns on the front of the muzzle.

Tipper: Truck with mechanical tipping body.

Scooter: At the beginning of the 20th century: the army name for a bicycle, a mechanical cart.

Scooter: Now: For children: a rolling bar with a standing handle on wheels or rollers.

Helicopter: A vertical take-off and landing heavier-than-air aircraft with a horizontal main propeller “propellers”.

Airplane: An aircraft heavier than air with a power plant and a wing that generates lift.

(Interpretation taken from Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary)

Otherwise, a vacuum cleaner is something that sucks dust. Roots ardor, sos.
Rhino is an animal with a horn on its nose. Nose roots, horn.
Dump truck - a machine that dumps the load itself. The roots itself and the shaft. C in front of the second root is a prefix.
A scooter is a device that rolls itself. Roots myself, cat.

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