There are various ways of learning new vocabulary. Today we will focus on how to form compound nouns in Spanish.
A compound word is one word that is made when two separate words are formed together. For example, when you put together the verb pick and the noun pocket, it forms the noun pickpocket, which describes a person who steals or picks things out of the pocket or purse of others. In this article, we will look at compound nouns in Spanish that are formed by combining a verb with a noun.
Compound Nouns in Spanish
Let’s start learning how to form compound nouns in Spanish by joining a verb and a noun. You should put together the verb in the third-person singular form of the Presente with the noun in its plural form.
All compound words created this way (verb + noun in the plural) are always masculine. Furthermore, the singular and plural forms are identical.
Compound Nouns with Abrir
| abrir + cartas | abrecartas |
| abrir + latas | abrelatas |
Usa el abrecartas: has destrozado este sobre.
Use the paper knife: you’ve destroyed this envelope.
¿Dónde está el abrelatas? Si no lo encuentras, puedes utilizar un cuchillo.
Where is the can opener? If you don’t find it, you can use a knife.
You can figure out the meaning of most of these words by splitting the word in two. For example,
Compound Nouns with Guardar
| guardar + espaldas | guardaespaldas |
| guardar + bosques | guardabosques |
Las personas con profesiones de alto riesgo necesitan un guardaespaldas veinticuatro horas al día.
People with high-risk professions need a bodyguard twenty-four hours a day.
Ha cambiado de carrera y se ha hecho guardabosques.
He has changed careers and has become a forest ranger.
Compound Nouns with Matar
| matar + moscas | matamoscas |
| matar + ratas | matarratas |
En verano siempre hay que tener el matamoscas cerca.
In the summertime you always have to keep the fly swatter nearby.
Hay signos de actividad en el sótano, ¿puedes poner matarratas?
There are signs of activity in the basement, can you put out rat poison?
Notice that if the noun starts with an
Compound Nouns with Parar
| parar + brisas | parabrisas |
| parar + aguas | paraguas |
El viento rompió uno de mis parabrisas.
The wind broke one of my windshield wipers.
Hoy usaré el paraguas nuevo porque está lloviendo.
Today I will use the new umbrella because it’s raining.
Compound Nouns with Limpiar
| limpiar + botas | limpiabotas |
| limpiar + parabrisas | limpiaparabrisas |
Ya no ves limpiabotas, es un oficio antiguo.
You don’t see shoeshiners these days, it’s an old job.
Después de las lluvias intensas, el limpiaparabrisas se llenó de barro.
After the heavy rains, the windshield wipers became full with mud.
Compound Nouns with Lavar
| lavar + vajillas | lavavajillas |
| lavar + manos | lavamanos |
En el bar, mi trabajo fue meter los platos sucios en el lavavajillas.
In the bar, my job was to load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
Compraron un lavamanos nuevo porque estaba roto.
They bought a new washbasin because it was broken.
Exercises
We have learned to form compound nouns in Spanish by combining a verb and a noun. Now you can do some exercises to practice some of these compound nouns in Spanish.