Compound words · Year 4
A compound word is two words joined together to make a new word: sun + flower = sunflower. The new word usually has a meaning linked to both parts: a toothbrush is a brush for your teeth.
Key facts
- Write a compound word as one word, with no space: football, not foot ball.
- Both parts are real words: rain + bow = rainbow.
- The meaning often comes from the parts: a bedroom is a room with a bed; a raincoat is a coat for the rain.
- One word can make many compounds: rainbow, raincoat, raindrop; snowman, snowball.
- Splitting a long word into its two parts helps you read and spell it: grass-hopper, thunder-storm.