What is a compound word?

What is a compound word?

• A. Word formed by combining two words, such as mailman or sidewalk.
• B. A word that has two syllables.
• C. A word that ends with -ed.
• D. A word that has a silent letter.

Answer: (A)

A compound word is formed when two words are joined to create a new word with its own meaning. For example, mailman combines mail and man, and sidewalk combines side and walk. Some compound words are written as one word (closed), others are hyphenated, and some are written as two words (open), but all share the idea of two words coming together to make a new meaning. This isn’t the same as simply having two syllables, or as a word ending with -ed, or as a word with a silent letter, which describe sounds or spelling rather than how the word was formed.

A compound word is formed when two words are joined to create a new word with its own meaning. For example, mailman combines mail and man, and sidewalk combines side and walk. Some compound words are written as one word (closed), others are hyphenated, and some are written as two words (open), but all share the idea of two words coming together to make a new meaning. This isn’t the same as simply having two syllables, or as a word ending with -ed, or as a word with a silent letter, which describe sounds or spelling rather than how the word was formed.