Compound Words: Definition & Types

Compound words are made up of two or more words working together to form a single word (or a phrase that functions as a single word).

Most parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even prepositions, are used to create compound words.

father (noun) + in (preposition) + law (noun)

 = father-in-law (noun)

For Example

Compound words and blended words, commonly referred to as portmanteaus, are frequently mistaken to be the same, but they are extremely different.

Each individual word in compound words stays the same. Portmanteau, only use portions of each word.

For example -
sitcom (Portmanteau)= situational + comedy

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

They have spaces between the words, for example, ice cream, living room, high school, etc.

They do not have spaces between the words, e.g., keyboard, everybody, makeup, etc.

They have hyphens between the words, like merry-go-round, mother-in-law, empty-handed, etc.

If you are interested to learn more on IELTS vocabulary, check out the link given below.