Compound Words
Grade 3 · English · Study Guide
Discover how two smaller words combine to make one brand-new word.
Some of the coolest words in English are actually two words hiding together! A compound word is formed when two separate words join together to make a new word with its own meaning. For example, 'sun' + 'flower' = 'sunflower.' Each part still holds a clue to the meaning, but the combination creates something completely new.
Compound words come in three forms. CLOSED compounds are written as one single word: butterfly, baseball, raincoat. These are the most common type in 3rd grade. HYPHENATED compounds use a dash between the words: mother-in-law, well-known. OPEN compounds are two separate words that belong together: ice cream, high school. For now, the most important ones to know are closed compound words.
Here is the amazing part — you can often figure out what a compound word means by thinking about the two smaller words inside it. 'Fire' + 'place' = 'fireplace,' which is a place for fire. 'Book' + 'shelf' = 'bookshelf,' a shelf for books. This makes compound words one of the easiest vocabulary strategies to use as a reader.
When you are writing, using compound words correctly makes your writing sound more precise and grown-up. Instead of writing 'a coat you wear when it rains,' you can just write 'raincoat.' One word does the job of seven!
Key terms
- compound word
- A word made by joining two smaller words together
- closed compound
- A compound word written as one word with no space or hyphen (example: sunshine)
- hyphenated compound
- A compound word with a hyphen between the two words (example: well-known)
- open compound
- A compound word where the two words stay separate (example: ice cream)
Flashcards
- compound word
- A word formed by joining two smaller words (sun + flower = sunflower)
- sunshine
- Compound word: sun + shine
- baseball
- Compound word: base + ball
- raincoat
- Compound word: rain + coat
- bookshelf
- Compound word: book + shelf
- fireplace
- Compound word: fire + place
Practice questions
Which of these is a compound word?
- jumping
- beautiful
- sunshine
- quickly
Show answer
Answer: sunshine
'Sunshine' is made from 'sun' + 'shine.' The others are single words with suffixes.
A compound word is made by adding a prefix to a base word.
Show answer
Answer: False
A compound word joins TWO whole words together. A prefix is a word part added to one word.
'Rain' + 'bow' = ___.
Show answer
Answer: rainbow
Rain + bow = rainbow. A rainbow appears in the sky after rain.
What two words make up 'backpack'?
- back + pack
- bac + kpack
- b + ackpack
- back + pa + ck
Show answer
Answer: back + pack
'Backpack' clearly splits into 'back' and 'pack' — a pack you carry on your back.
You can often figure out a compound word's meaning by thinking about the two smaller words inside it.
Show answer
Answer: True
Each part of a compound word carries meaning. 'Book' + 'shelf' = a shelf for books. This strategy helps decode new words.
Fun facts
- The word 'butterfly' is a compound word, but no one is totally sure why it was named after butter! One old theory is that butterflies were thought to steal milk and butter.
- You can make up your own compound words — writers do it all the time. J.R.R. Tolkien invented 'hobbit-hole' and 'ring-bearer' for his stories!
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