Compound words are formed when two or more words combine to create a new word with its own meaning. They are essential in English vocabulary and help make language more expressive. In this article, we’ll explore:
✔ What are compound words?
✔ Types of compound words
✔ 20 compound words with meaning & examples
✔ Compound words for kids
✔ Pictorial examples
What Are Compound Words?
Compound words are formed by joining two or more words to create a new word with a distinct meaning.
Example:
- Sun + Flower = Sunflower 🌻
- Rain + Bow = Rainbow 🌈
Types of Compound Words
There are 3 Types of Compound Words:
- Closed Compounds (No space between words)
- Notebook, Sunflower, Football
- Open Compounds (Space between words)
- Post office, Ice cream, Full moon
- Hyphenated Compounds (Words joined by a hyphen)
- Mother-in-law, Check-in, Well-known
20 Compound Words in English with Meaning & Examples
List of 20 Compound Words in English with Meaning & Examples:
| 20 Compound Words in English | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Notebook | A book for writing notes | She wrote her homework in a notebook. |
| 2. Sunflower | A yellow flower that follows the sun | The sunflower bloomed in the garden. 🌻 |
| 3. Football | A sport played with a ball | He plays football every evening. ⚽ |
| 4. Toothpaste | A paste used for cleaning teeth | She bought mint-flavored toothpaste. |
| 5. Butterfly | A flying insect with colorful wings | A butterfly sat on the flower. 🦋 |
| 6. Raincoat | A coat worn to protect from rain | He wore a raincoat in the storm. |
| 7. Cupcake | A small cake baked in a cup | She loves chocolate cupcakes. 🧁 |
| 8. Firefly | A glowing insect | We saw fireflies at night. ✨ |
| 9. Goldfish | A small orange pet fish | His goldfish swims in a bowl. 🐠 |
| 10. Pancake | A flat, round breakfast food | Mom made pancakes for breakfast. 🥞 |
| 11. Bookshelf | A shelf for keeping books | He arranged novels on the bookshelf. |
| 12. Moonlight | Light from the moon | They danced under the moonlight. 🌙 |
| 13. Eyebrow | Hair above the eye | She shaped her eyebrows. |
| 14. Rainbow | A colorful arc in the sky | After rain, we saw a rainbow. 🌈 |
| 15. Snowman | A figure made of snow | Kids built a snowman in winter. ⛄ |
| 16. Starfish | A sea creature shaped like a star | A starfish washed up on the shore. 🌟 |
| 17. Lighthouse | A tower with a bright light for ships | The lighthouse guided the boats. |
| 18. Toothbrush | A brush for cleaning teeth | He bought a new toothbrush. |
| 19. Jellyfish | A sea animal with a jelly-like body | A jellyfish stung the swimmer. |
| 20. Dragonfly | A flying insect with long wings | A dragonfly landed on the leaf. |
Compound Words for Kids
Here are the 5 compound words for kids:
- 📚 Book + Shelf = Bookshelf
- ☀️ Sun + Flower = Sunflower
- ⚽ Foot + Ball = Football
- 🌈 Rain + Bow = Rainbow
- 🦋 Butter + Fly = Butterfly
Why Learn Compound Words?
✔ Improves vocabulary
✔ Helps in reading & writing
✔ Makes learning fun for kids
Final Thoughts – 20 Compound Words in English
Compound words make English richer and more creative. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent, learning these words enhances communication.
