Chapter 37: Compound Words
German is famous for its compound words — where two or more words are joined together to form one longer word with a new meaning. Learning how to understand and break down these words is essential for reading and speaking German effectively.
📍 What Are Compound Words (Komposita)?
Compound words in German are called Komposita. They are formed by joining two or more nouns together to create a new word with a specific meaning.
🔧 Structure:
Word 1 + Word 2 = New Word
The last word in the compound determines:
- Gender (der/die/das)
- Plural form
- Main meaning
🧱 Examples of Common Compound Words
| Compound Word | Meaning | Components |
|---|---|---|
| Handschuh | Glove | Hand (hand) + Schuh (shoe) |
| Zahnarzt | Dentist | Zahn (tooth) + Arzt (doctor) |
| Hausaufgabe | Homework | Haus (house) + Aufgabe (task) |
| Sonnenbrille | Sunglasses | Sonne (sun) + Brille (glasses) |
| Fernsehen | Television | Fern (far) + sehen (to see) |
| Schreibtisch | Desk | Schreiben (to write) + Tisch (table) |
| Wasserflasche | Water bottle | Wasser (water) + Flasche (bottle) |
🧠 Rule of Thumb
- Always read compound words from the end to get the core meaning.
- Then, look at the prefix or other components for context.
📝 Hausaufgabe = Aufgabe (assignment) → related to Haus (home) → homework
🎯 Why Learn Compound Words?
- German uses them frequently, especially in formal and academic contexts.
- They help you guess meanings even when encountering new vocabulary.
- You can build your own vocabulary by combining known words.
🔍 Gender and Plural Formation
Only the last noun in a compound word determines the gender and plural.
🧩 Examples:
- der Handschuh → der comes from der Schuh
- die Sonnenbrille → die from die Brille
- die Zahnbürsten (toothbrushes) → plural comes from die Bürste (Bürsten)
🗂️ Types of Compounds
1. Noun + Noun
- Autoschlüssel (car key)
- Türgriff (door handle)
2. Verb + Noun
-
Waschmaschine (washing machine)
- Waschen (to wash) + Maschine (machine)
3. Adjective + Noun
-
Hochhaus (skyscraper)
- Hoch (high) + Haus (house)
4. Noun + Verb (nounified)
-
Rückblick (review/retrospective)
- Rück (back) + Blick (glance/look)
🧩 Exercise: Break These Down
- Fahrkarte = ______ + ______ → ______
- Kugelschreiber = ______ + ______ → ______
- Schlafzimmer = ______ + ______ → ______
- Badeanzug = ______ + ______ → ______
- Fußballspiel = ______ + ______ + ______ → ______
Answers
- Fahren + Karte → Travel ticket
- Kugel + Schreiber → Ballpoint pen
- Schlafen + Zimmer → Bedroom
- Baden + Anzug → Swimsuit
- Fuß + Ball + Spiel → Football match
🧩 Create Your Own Compounds
Try combining these:
| Word A | Word B | Compound Word |
|---|---|---|
| Buch (book) | Regal (shelf) | __________ |
| Kaffee (coffee) | Tasse (cup) | __________ |
| Kinder (children) | Garten (garden) | __________ |
Suggested Answers:
- Bücherregal (bookshelf)
- Kaffeetasse (coffee cup)
- Kindergarten (kindergarten)
🎧 Audio Practice
Listen to words being pronounced using:
- DW Learn German – Nicos Weg
- YouTube channels: Learn German with Anja, Easy German
- Google Translate audio for pronunciation
📄 Summary Cheat Sheet
| Feature | Rule/Fact |
|---|---|
| Formation | Word1 + Word2 = New Word |
| Gender/Plural | Determined by the last noun |
| Core Meaning | Defined by the last part of the compound |
| Benefit | Helps expand vocabulary, decode unknown words |
| Common Usage | Very frequent in day-to-day and formal German |
🧩 Practice Resources
- 🧠 Quizlet Flashcards – Search "German Compound Words"
- 🧩 Duolingo Practice – Vocabulary expansion through context
- 📝 Printable Worksheet – Create a fill-in-the-blank practice sheet with compound formation