150+ Compound Words That Your Students Can Start Learning Today

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.

3. Hyphenated compound words

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.

1. Identifying compound words in stories

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.

2. Sing-alongs

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. 

3. Chopping words

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.

4. Determining Which is Compound & Non-Compound

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.

5. Match the compound words

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.

6. Draw the compound word

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.

Discover more online educational resources and printable worksheets for kids that will help with their learning experience and make them smarter.

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.