Compound nouns lists
Here we have a massive 1100+ compound nouns list broken up into 3 separate tables. The words have also been arranged in alphabetical order so that its is somewhat easier to navigate and use.
The list is great for creating your own activities based on English compound nouns. The list is in no way comprehensive and the plan is to add more words in the future. Note that the list contains all three types of compound nouns – open, closed, and hyphenated.
There are so many words that it just didn’t seem practical to offer them as downloadable PDF’s. You can of course right click, copy, and paste the words onto a blank document if you feel the need to save them! There may be a few small mistakes here and there but I’ll get those cleaned up as soon as possible.
For some printable compound noun activities check out the ready made compound noun worksheets.
Compound nouns list A to F
aboveboard | address book | afterbirth | afterburner |
---|---|---|---|
afterglow | afterimage | afterlife | aftermath |
afternoon | air conditioner | air raid | airbrush |
aircraft | airfield | airlift | airline |
airliner | airmail | airman | airmen |
airplane | airport | airship | airtime |
alarm clock | allover | allspice | alongside |
also | another | anybody | anyhow |
anymore | anyone | anyplace | anything |
anytime | anyway | anywhere | armchair |
armpit | around | arrowhead | ashtray |
assembly line | authorship | babysitter | baby-sitter |
backache | backbite | backbone | backbreaker |
backdrop | backfield | backfire | background |
backhand | backlash | backlog | backpack |
back-seat driver | backside | backslap | backslide |
backspace | backspin | backstage | backstop |
backstretch | backstroke | backtrack | backward |
ballpark | ballroom | bandwagon | bank account |
bankbook | banknote | bankroll | barman |
baseball | basketball | bathroom | beachcomb |
became | because | become | bedbug |
bedclothes | bedrock | bedroll | bedroom |
bedspread | bedtime | bellbottom | bellboy |
bellhop | below | billboard | bird of prey |
blackball | blackberries | blackbird | blackboard |
blackjack | blacklist | blackmail | blackout |
blacksmith | blacktop | blood donor | bluebell |
blueberry | bluebird | bluefish | bluegrass |
blueprint | boardwalk | bodyguard | bodywork |
boldface | book token | bookbinder | bookcase |
bookend | bookkeeper | booklet | bookmark |
bookmobile | bookseller | bookshelf | bookstore |
bookworm | bootstrap | bother-in-law | bowtie |
brainchild | brainstorm | brainwash | bride-to-be |
bring-and-buy sale | bug spray | bulldog | bullfight |
burglar alarm | bus stop | buttercup | butterfat |
butterfingers | butterflies | buttermilk | butternut |
butterscotch | bypass | cabdriver | can opener |
cancan | candid | candlelight | candlestick |
cannot | car park | cardboard | cardsharp |
carefree | caretaker | careworn | carfare |
cargo | carhop | carload | carpetbagger |
carpool | carport | carrack | carryall |
carsick | cartwheel | carwash | catfish |
cattail | caveman | center cut | chairman |
cheapskate | checkup | cheeseburger | cheesecake |
chopstick | clockwise | clockwork | clotheshorse |
clothesline | coffeemaker | comeback | comedown |
come-on | commonplace | commonwealth | compact disc |
comrade in arms | contact lens | copycat | copyright |
cornball | cornerstone | cornmeal | cornstalk |
cottonmouth | cottontail | cottonwood | countdown |
counterattack | counterbalance | counterclockwise | counterintelligence |
countermeasure | counteroffensive | counterpane | counterpart |
counterpoint | counterpoise | countryside | courthouse |
courtroom | courtyard | cover-up | cowboy |
crackdown | credit card | crewcut | crossbow |
crossbreed | crosscut | crossover | crossroad |
crosstown | crosswalk | crossword | cutback |
dairymaid | daisywheel | daybed | daybook |
daybreak | daydream | daylight | daytime |
dead-end | deadline | deadlock | dining room |
dishcloth | dishpan | dishwasher | dishwater |
disk drive | dogwood | doorbell | doorstop |
downbeat | downfall | downpour | down under |
drawback | drawbridge | drawing pin | dressmaker |
driveway | driving license | drugstore | drumstick |
duckbill | duckpin | earache | eardrop |
eardrum | earphone | earring | earthbound |
earthquake | earthward | earthworm | earwig |
egghead | eggshell | elsewhere | estate agent |
everything | eyeballs | eye-catching | eyeglasses |
eyelash | eyelid | eyesight | eyewitness |
fairy tale | farmhouse | fatherhood | fatherland |
fatherless | feedback | film star | fingernail |
fingerprint | fire engine | firearm | fireball |
fireboat | firebomb | firebox | firebreak |
firecracker | firefighter | fireflies | firefly |
firehouse | fireproof | firewater | firewood |
fireworks | fishbowl | fisherman | fisheye |
fishhook | fishlike | fishmonger | fishnet |
fishpond | fishtail | floodlight | football |
foothill | foothold | footlights | footlocker |
footnote | footpath |