Examples of Compound Words in English • Englishilm

Learn how compound words are formed by combining two or more words to create a new meaning. These words make English more expressive and easier to understand. Mastering compound words will help English learners improve their vocabulary and recognize patterns in word formation.

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Table of Contents

What are Compound Words?

Compound words are words that are made by joining two or more words together to create a new meaning. These words help us express ideas in a simple and clear way.

For example:

Sun + flower = Sunflower
Note + book = Notebook
Rain + coat = Raincoat

Each of these words has a new meaning different from the individual words.

Types of Compound Words

There are three main types of compound words: Closed Compound Words, Open Compound Words, and Hyphenated Compound Words.

1. Closed Compound Words

Closed compound words are written as a single word without spaces. These words look like one word but are made of two words combined together.

Examples:

Football (Foot + Ball)
Bedroom (Bed + Room)
Notebook (Note + Book)
Snowman (Snow + Man)

2. Open Compound Words

Open compound words are written as two separate words, but they work together to give a new meaning.

Examples:

Ice cream (Ice + Cream)
Post office (Post + Office)
Full moon (Full + Moon)
Living room (Living + Room)

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

Hyphenated compound words are joined by a hyphen (-) between them. This helps to show that the words are connected.

Examples:

Mother-in-law
Well-known
Self-esteem
Merry-go-round

Why are Compound Words Important?

Compound words are important because they make our language richer and help us describe things easily. By understanding them, English learners can improve their vocabulary and communication skills.

List of Compound Words with Examples

1. Examples of Closed Compound Words:

These are compound words written together as a single word.

Sunflower – I planted a sunflower in my garden.
Snowball – We made a snowball during the winter.
Mailbox – I checked the mailbox for letters.
Teacup – She drank tea from a small teacup.
Rainbow – We saw a beautiful rainbow after the rain.
Football – He kicked the football across the field.
Butterfly – A butterfly landed on the flower.
Toothbrush – Don’t forget to use your toothbrush every morning.
Notebook – I wrote my notes in a notebook.
Cupcake – She baked a cupcake for the party.
Bedroom – I cleaned my bedroom today.
Basketball – We played basketball at school.
Firefly – A firefly glowed in the dark.
Blueberry – I love eating blueberry muffins.
Snowflake – Each snowflake is unique.
Sandbox – The kids played in the sandbox at the park.
Jellyfish – We saw a jellyfish at the aquarium.
Earrings – She wore gold earrings to the event.
Hairbrush – She combed her hair with a hairbrush.
Laptop – I use my laptop for schoolwork.
Doorbell – The doorbell rang loudly.
Playground – We played on the playground after school.
Icecream – We had icecream on a hot day.
Ladybug – A ladybug crawled on the leaf.
Fingernail – I painted my fingernail with polish.
Notebook – She wrote her story in a notebook.
Waterfall – We visited a beautiful waterfall on our hike.
Doghouse – The dog sleeps in the doghouse.
Sandcastle – We built a large sandcastle on the beach.
Flashlight – He used a flashlight to find his way in the dark.
Pancake – She made delicious pancakes for breakfast.
Starfish – We saw a starfish in the ocean.
Bedroom – I sleep in my bedroom every night.
Notebook – He kept all his notes in a notebook.
Tennisball – She hit the tennisball with the racket.
Bookmark – I used a bookmark to mark my page.
Birdhouse – A bird built a nest in the birdhouse.
Spaceship – The spaceship flew to the moon.
Blackboard – The teacher wrote on the blackboard.
Football – We played football at recess.
Raincoat – She wore a raincoat in the rain.
Goldfish – He fed his goldfish in the aquarium.
Popcorn – We ate popcorn during the movie.
Lighthouse – The lighthouse guided the ships at sea.
Sunglasses – I wore sunglasses to protect my eyes.
Butterfly – A butterfly landed on my hand.
Cowboy – The cowboy rode his horse across the field.
Snowman – We built a large snowman in the yard.
Greenhouse – The plants grow in the greenhouse.
Skateboard – He learned to ride a skateboard.
Cupcake – She decorated the cupcake with sprinkles.
Ladybird – A ladybird rested on the window.
Sailboat – We sailed on a sailboat on the lake.
Sunflower – The sunflower bloomed in the summer.
Toothpaste – Use toothpaste to brush your teeth.
Washboard – The old washboard was used to clean clothes.
Playpen – The baby played safely in the playpen.
Moonlight – The moonlight shone through the window.
Cupcake – He ate the cupcake quickly.
Watermelon – We enjoyed a sweet watermelon slice.
Crosswalk – The crosswalk helps pedestrians cross safely.
Notebook – She took notes in her notebook during class.
Sidewalk – We walked on the sidewalk to school.
Wheelchair – The man used a wheelchair to get around.
Bathtub – I filled the bathtub with warm water.
Bedroom – She cleaned her bedroom before bed.
Birdcage – The parrot lives in a large birdcage.
Strawberry – We picked fresh strawberries from the garden.
Snowstorm – A heavy snowstorm hit the city.
Honeybee – The honeybee collected nectar from the flowers.

2. Hyphenated Compound Words Examples:

These compound words are connected by a hyphen. Here are examples of hyphenated compound words along with their use in sentences:

Mother-in-law – My mother-in-law is very kind.
Editor-in-chief – The editor-in-chief reviewed the article.
Well-known – He is a well-known author.
Part-time – She has a part-time job at the bookstore.
Left-handed – He writes with his left-handed.
Check-in – We will check-in at the hotel at 3 PM.
Sugar-free – I prefer sugar-free drinks.
State-of-the-art – The lab has state-of-the-art equipment.
Merry-go-round – The kids enjoyed the merry-go-round at the park.
Up-to-date – Make sure the information is up-to-date.
Brother-in-law – My brother-in-law is coming to visit.
Five-year-old – The five-year-old boy is very playful.
Tug-of-war – We had a fun tug-of-war competition at the picnic.
Mind-blowing – The magic trick was mind-blowing.
Run-down – The house is in a run-down condition.
High-speed – He drove on the high-speed train.
One-way – This is a one-way street.
Self-esteem – She has very high self-esteem.
Full-time – He got a full-time job at the company.
Brother-in-law – My brother-in-law is coming for dinner.
Long-term – We have a long-term plan for success.
Eighty-eight – The player scored eighty-eight points in the game.
Twenty-one – She celebrated her twenty-one birthday.
Well-being – Exercise is important for your overall well-being.
Far-reaching – The new law had far-reaching effects.
Up-to-date – Ensure your resume is up-to-date before applying.
Decision-making – Effective decision-making is key to leadership.
Two-year-old – Their two-year-old daughter is learning to speak.
State-of-the-art – They used state-of-the-art technology.
Low-cost – We found a low-cost solution to the problem.
High-tech – This company develops high-tech gadgets.
Well-being – Mental well-being is just as important as physical health.
Old-fashioned – My grandmother makes an old-fashioned apple pie.
Free-for-all – The event turned into a free-for-all when the doors opened.
Long-term – Our focus is on long-term goals.
Cut-and-dried – The instructions were cut-and-dried and easy to follow.
One-sided – The debate was completely one-sided.
Short-term – This is a short-term project.
Mind-blowing – The special effects in the movie were mind-blowing.
Twenty-two – There were twenty-two students in the class.
Five-year-old – The five-year-old child loves to play.
Self-confident – She is a very self-confident person.
Well-trained – The dog is well-trained and follows commands.
First-class – They traveled in first-class on the flight.
High-end – He bought a high-end smartphone.
Run-of-the-mill – The movie was pretty run-of-the-mill.