Compound Words
Learn compound words like sunflower, rainbow and football by joining two small words into one. A fun reading lesson for ages 5-7 with word games.
Key takeaways
- A compound word is two small words joined into one
- Sun + flower makes sunflower
- Read each part to read the whole word
Two words become one
A compound word is a clever word made from two smaller words joined together. 🧩
When you put sun and flower side by side, you get sunflower! 🌻 The two little words make one big word.
Joining words together
Watch how two words snap together like puzzle pieces:
- sun + flower = sunflower 🌻
- rain + bow = rainbow 🌈
- foot + ball = football ⚽
- snow + man = snowman ⛄
- cup + cake = cupcake 🧁
- star + fish = starfish ⭐
Each part is a real word you already know. Put them together and you can read the whole word!
A word list to read
Here are more compound words. Find the two small words hiding inside.
| Compound word | Small words |
|---|---|
| bedroom 🛏️ | bed + room |
| toothbrush 🪥 | tooth + brush |
| butterfly 🦋 | butter + fly |
| rainbow 🌈 | rain + bow |
| sandcastle 🏰 | sand + castle |
| playground 🛝 | play + ground |
How to read a compound word
When you meet a long word, do not worry! Break it apart:
- Cover the second part with your finger. ✋
- Read the first small word.
- Read the second small word.
- Say them together fast!
So toothbrush becomes tooth + brush = toothbrush. Easy! 🪥
Make your own
Try joining words to build new ones. Which ones are real?
fire + work = firework 🎆 ✅ rain + coat = raincoat 🧥 ✅ moon + light = moonlight 🌙 ✅
Brilliant work!
Now you can break big words into small ones. That makes reading much easier!
Next, try Word Families and Rhyming Words.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
What two words make 'rainbow'?
Rain + bow joins to make rainbow 🌈.
Which one is a compound word?
Cupcake is cup + cake, two words joined into one.
Sun + flower makes...
The two words join with no space to make sunflower 🌻.
Play & learn
Match the two words that make a compound word +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
Compound word cards +5 XP
Completed ✓ +5 XP
FAQ
A compound word is one word made by joining two smaller words, like foot + ball = football.
Break it into the two small words first, read each part, then say them together.
Keep exploring
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