Compound Words: Two Words Become One
Grade 2 · English · Study Guide
Learn how two smaller words join together to make a brand-new word.
A compound word is made when two smaller words are joined together to make a new word with its own meaning. For example, 'sun' + 'flower' = 'sunflower.' The new word is related to both small words but has its own special meaning.
Compound words are all around you! Think about 'backpack' — it is 'back' + 'pack.' Or 'raincoat' — 'rain' + 'coat.' Once you start looking, you will spot compound words everywhere in books, signs, and everyday conversation.
Some compound words are written as one solid word, like 'football' and 'bedroom.' Others are written with a hyphen between them, like 'merry-go-round.' And some are written as two separate words, like 'ice cream.' Most of the compound words you will see in second grade are the solid kind.
Knowing compound words helps you figure out the meaning of words you have never seen before. If you see the word 'moonlight,' you can guess it has something to do with the moon AND light — and you would be right!
| Word 1 | Word 2 | Compound Word |
|---|---|---|
| sun | flower | sunflower |
| rain | bow | rainbow |
| back | pack | backpack |
| birth | day | birthday |
| cup | cake | cupcake |
| butter | fly | butterfly |
Key terms
- compound word
- A word made by joining two smaller words together
- closed compound
- Two words written as one solid word (e.g., football, bedroom)
- hyphenated compound
- Two words joined with a hyphen (e.g., merry-go-round)
Flashcards
- compound word
- Two smaller words joined to make a new word
- sunflower
- sun + flower
- rainbow
- rain + bow
- backpack
- back + pack
- birthday
- birth + day
- butterfly
- butter + fly
Practice questions
Which word is a compound word?
- running
- birthday
- jumped
- quickly
Show answer
Answer: birthday
'Birthday' is made of 'birth' + 'day' — two separate words joined into one.
'Sun' + 'shine' = ___.
Show answer
Answer: sunshine
'Sun' and 'shine' join to make 'sunshine' — a word meaning the light from the sun.
A compound word is made from two smaller words.
Show answer
Answer: True
Compound words are always formed by combining two (or sometimes more) smaller words.
What two words make up 'raincoat'?
- rain + cat
- rain + coat
- ran + coat
- rain + oat
Show answer
Answer: rain + coat
'Raincoat' = 'rain' + 'coat' — a coat you wear in the rain!
Every compound word has exactly three small words in it.
Show answer
Answer: False
Most compound words are made from just TWO smaller words, not three.
Fun facts
- The word 'butterfly' comes from an old belief that butterflies stole butter — so people combined 'butter' and 'fly'!
- New compound words get created all the time — 'laptop' and 'smartphone' are modern compound words!
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