A compound word consists of two or more words joined together to make a new word. The new word has a new meaning.

The compound word basketball 🏀 is made up of the words basket 🧺 and ball 🏐.

The compound word rainbow 🌈 is made up of the words rain 🌧 and bow 🎀.

There are three types of compound words: closed compounds, open compounds, and hyphenated compounds.

What is a closed compound?

A closed compound is when the smaller words are joined to make one word e.g. football. The words are not separated by anything. 

Some other examples are:

• Butterfly
• Basketball
• Snowman
• Jellyfish

The closed compound butterfly is made up of the words butter and fly. The words are not separated by anything. 

The closed compound basketball is made up of the words basket and ball. The words are not separated by anything. 

The closed compound snowman is made up of the words snow and man. The words are not separated by anything. 

What is an open compound? 

An open compound is when the smaller words are joined from separate words e.g. ice cream. The words are separated with a space.

Some other examples are:

• High school
• Dining room
• School bus
• Full moon

The open compound high school is made up of the words high and school. The words are separated with a space.

The open compound dining room is made up of the words dining and hall. The words are separated with a space.

The open compound school bus is made up of the words school and bus. The words are separated with a space.

The open compound full moon is made up of the words full and moon. The words are separated with a space.

What is a hyphenated compound?

A hyphenated compound is when the smaller words are joined with hyphens e.g. son-in-law. The words are separated with hyphens. 

Some other examples are:

• Mother-in-law
• Self-confidence 
• Great-grandmother
• Runner-up

The hyphenated compound mother-in-law is made up of the words mother, in, and law. The words are separated with hyphens. 

The hyphenated compound self-confidence is made up of the words self and confidence. The words are separated with hyphens. 

The hyphenated compound great-grandmother is made up of the words great and grandmother. The words are separated with hyphens. 

The hyphenated compound runner-up is made up of the words runner and up. The words are separated with hyphens.