What is a Compound Word?

A compound word is a word that is made up of two or more smaller words. The smaller words that make up a compound word are called base words, and the process of combining them is called compounding.

Compound words can be written in one of three ways: as two separate words (e.g., ice cream), with a hyphen between them (e.g., mother-in-law), or as one solid word (e.g., flashlight). Which way a compound word is written often depends on its meaning and how it will be used in a sentence. For example, the compound word “ice cream” is usually written as two separate words because it refers to two different things (i.e., ice + cream), whereas the compound word “mother-in-law” is typically written with a hyphen because it describes a single concept (i.e., mother + in-law).

There are four main types of compound words: closed compounds, open compounds, Hyphenated compounds, and Solid compounds.

Closed compounds are made up of two base words that are joined together to form a new word, with no space in between (e.g., haircut, fireman). Open compounds, on the other hand, have a space between the two base words (e.g., real estate, full moon).

Hyphenated compounds are compound words that are written with a hyphen (-) between the two base words (e.g., mother-in-law, six-year-old). And finally, solid compounds are compound words that are written as one single word (e.g., breakfast, bedroom).

It’s important to note that not all multi-word phrases are compound words. For example, the phrase “ice cream” is not a compound word because it does not describe a single concept; rather, it refers to two separate things (i.e., ice + cream). In contrast, the phrase “real estate” is considered a compound word because it describes a single concept (i.e., land + property).