Compound Words for Kids: Definition, Examples, and Printable Worksheets

Do you know what ice and cream can make after a patch up? Ice Cream🍦. This is one of the compound words for kids that they used to learn in schools.

Because compound words play an essential role in children’s early vocabulary journey to help them become fluent. Further, they will also become confident readers, writers, and communicators.

If you are searching for a guide on such a topic, then you are at the right place! Here, I’ve compiled a comprehensive article on this topic, including some of their examples and printable worksheets for you to help your children practice at home.

So, Let’s Get Going!

Compound words for kids are simple combinations of two or three small words with different meanings.

Simply put: Two small or three small words meet to make a new word that has a different meaning. Ok, let’s make it simpler. Bring two or three words together to make a new word with a different meaning.

Here, you will find some of the types of compound words for kids while cracking the code to each of them.

Closed Compound words are those that are made by combining two or more words without any spacing. Further, they don’t have any hyphens or spaces between them to give another meaning.

Examples

• Sun + Flower = Sunflower 🌻
• Rain + Bow = Rainbow 🌈
• Basket + Ball = Basketball 🏀

When words are created by combining two or more words, but act as a single unit and give a single meaning are called open compound words. Although these types of words have spaces, in reading, they will be read as a complete word.

Examples 

• Ice + Cream = Ice cream 🍨
• Post + Office = Post office 🏢
• Full + Moon = Full moon 🌕

As the name shows, hyphenated compound words are words that are connected through hyphens to form a single, new, meaningful word.

Examples

• Up + To + Date = Up-to-date
• Mother + In + Law = Mother-in-law
• Well + Being = Well-being

Here are the 2 main conditions to consider that will help you identify if the word is compound or not.

1. First Condition: If you can break down the word into two meaningful words, then the first condition is fulfilled. i.e. Toothbrush (Tooth + Brush).

2. Second Condition: If broken words have meanings separately, then the second condition is also fulfilled. Tooth has meaning separately, so does the brush.

Note: When both of the conditions are fulfilled, then the word is a compound.

Example

• The word “Doctor” has two syllables, but it is not a compound word because you can’t break it into two meaningful words.
• The word “Moonwalk” is a compound word that is broken down into two separate words, moon and walk. Further, it has a meaning related to the separate words.
• While the word “Carpet” can be broken down into two words, “Car” and “Pet”, it is not a compound word because the combined meaning of “Car” and “Pet” does not relate to the meaning of “Carpet” (a floor covering).

There are hundreds of compound words for kids to learn, but here are a few to help you get started:

1. Super + Hero = Superhero
2. Note + Book = Notebook
3. Under + Ground = Underground
4. Mail + Box = Mailbox
5. Sun + Flower = Sunflower
6. Rain + coat = Raincoat
7. Cat + Fish = Catfish
8. Arm + Pit = Armpit
9. Stair + Case = Staircase
10. Butter + Fly = Butterfly
11. Grand + Parents = Grandparents
12. Cup + Cake = Cupcake
13. Book + Case = Bookcase
14. Fire + Fighter = Firefighter
15. Snow + Ball = Snowball
16. Rail + Road = Railroad
17. In + Side = Inside
18. Break + Fast = Breakfast
19. Tooth + Brush = Toothbrush
20. Lip + Stick = Lipstick
21. Bird + House = Birdhouse
22. Work + Sheet = Worksheet
23. Some + Where = Somewhere
24. Sun + Glasses = Sunglasses
25. Text + Book = Textbook
26. Day + Dream = Daydream
27. Thunder + Storm = Thunderstorm
28. Snow + Flake = Snowflake
29. Water + Fall = Waterfall
30. Star + Fish = Starfish
31. Sea + Horse = Seahorse
32. Pop + Corn = Popcorn
33. Pan + Cake = Pancake
34. Air + Port = Airport
35. Bed + Room = Bedroom

Here are some of the most engaging compound words worksheets that you can try to teach your kiddo 🤱.

You can download the picture-based worksheets by clicking on the button to take a printout. Further, your kids will learn compound words by observing the images and breaking down the extra part.

You are completely free to download the Fill in the Blanks printout that your kids will engage with. They will fill in the blanks by observing their vicarious learning skills.

Lastly, I’ve added match the words printables for you to teach your kids compound words in an engaging way. Do download by clicking on the button, once!

Learning compound words for kids can’t be negotiable at any cost because it’s the first step for children to learning. Their vocabulary, spelling, and creativity will depend on the skills they’ve learnt in their childhood as now.

School may become a boring place for kids; that’s the reason why practicing through worksheets makes learning fun and enjoyable. As I’ve included some of the printables for parents and teachers that they must try with kids to teach them.