What is a compound word?

A compound word is made by joining two smaller words together. Both words keep their spelling — they just sit next to each other to create a new meaning.

More examples

sea + horse = seahorse
butter + fly = butterfly
book + shelf = bookshelf
bed + room = bedroom
cup + cake = cupcake

How to spot them

If you look at a word and can see two smaller, real words inside it — it's probably a compound word! Try covering one part and checking if the other part is a real word too.

Example: starfish → star + fish ✅

Meaning clue

The meaning of a compound word often comes from both parts. A sunflower is a flower that looks like (or turns toward) the sun. A raincoat is a coat you wear in the rain.

Key Vocabulary

compound word — a word made by joining two smaller words together

word part — one of the smaller words that makes up the compound

combine — to join two or more things together

meaning — what a word tells us; often comes from both parts of a compound word

Lesson Summary

✓A compound word is made by joining two smaller words together.
✓Examples: sun + flower = sunflower, rain + bow = rainbow, foot + ball = football.
✓To spot a compound word, look for two real words inside the longer word.
✓The meaning often comes from both parts (e.g. raincoat = coat for rain).

Compound Words

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