A list of 611 compound words, split into their two parts
Every closed compound used by KEYSTONE, the daily word bridge game.
A compound word is a single word built out of two words that can each
stand alone: day plus light makes
daylight. English writes them closed (daylight), hyphenated
(well-being) or open (ice cream); only the closed ones are listed here, because
those are the ones the game can join end to end.
Every entry below is a join that actually appears in a KEYSTONE puzzle. The
list was filtered by hand: words that merely look like compounds because of an
accidental split (handsome is not hand + some, manage is not
man + age) were removed, as were surnames and place names. What is left is
611 compound words made from 297 distinct parts.
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y
A 9 words
- afterlife = after + life
- aftertaste = after + taste
- afterthought = after + thought
- anymore = any + more
- anytime = any + time
- anyway = any + way
- armchair = arm + chair
- armpit = arm + pit
- artwork = art + work
B 70 words
- backboard = back + board
- backbone = back + bone
- backdoor = back + door
- backfire = back + fire
- background = back + ground
- backhand = back + hand
- backpack = back + pack
- backroom = back + room
- backseat = back + seat
- backside = back + side
- backstage = back + stage
- backward = back + ward
- backwater = back + water
- backwoods = back + woods
- backyard = back + yard
- bagman = bag + man
- ballgame = ball + game
- ballpark = ball + park
- ballpoint = ball + point
- ballroom = ball + room
- bandstand = band + stand
- baseball = base + ball
- baseline = base + line
- bathroom = bath + room
- bedpost = bed + post
- bedrock = bed + rock
- bedroom = bed + room
- bedside = bed + side
- bedspread = bed + spread
- bedtime = bed + time
- beforehand = before + hand
- benchmark = bench + mark
- bigfoot = big + foot
- birdhouse = bird + house
- birthday = birth + day
- birthplace = birth + place
- blackbird = black + bird
- blackboard = black + board
- blackguard = black + guard
- blackhead = black + head
- blackmail = black + mail
- blackout = black + out
- blackwood = black + wood
- bloodbath = blood + bath
- bloodless = blood + less
- bloodline = blood + line
- boardroom = board + room
- boardwalk = board + walk
- boathouse = boat + house
- boatload = boat + load
- boatman = boat + man
- bodyguard = body + guard
- boneless = bone + less
- bookmark = book + mark
- bookshop = book + shop
- bookstore = book + store
- bookworm = book + worm
- bowman = bow + man
- bowtie = bow + tie
- boyfriend = boy + friend
- boyhood = boy + hood
- breakaway = break + away
- breakdown = break + down
- breakfast = break + fast
- breakout = break + out
- breakthrough = break + through
- breakwater = break + water
- brotherhood = brother + hood
- burnout = burn + out
- businessman = business + man
C 33 words
- cameraman = camera + man
- campfire = camp + fire
- campground = camp + ground
- cardboard = card + board
- carefree = care + free
- castaway = cast + away
- caveman = cave + man
- chairman = chair + man
- chairwoman = chair + woman
- checkbook = check + book
- checklist = check + list
- checkmark = check + mark
- checkout = check + out
- checkpoint = check + point
- cheerleader = cheer + leader
- childbirth = child + birth
- clipboard = clip + board
- clockwork = clock + work
- cloudburst = cloud + burst
- clubhouse = club + house
- comeback = come + back
- councilman = council + man
- countdown = count + down
- courthouse = court + house
- cowboy = cow + boy
- cowgirl = cow + girl
- crossbow = cross + bow
- crosscheck = cross + check
- crossfire = cross + fire
- crossover = cross + over
- crosswalk = cross + walk
- cutoff = cut + off
- cutout = cut + out
D 31 words
- database = data + base
- daybed = day + bed
- daybreak = day + break
- daydream = day + dream
- daydreaming = day + dreaming
- daylight = day + light
- daytime = day + time
- deathbed = death + bed
- doghouse = dog + house
- doorman = door + man
- doorpost = door + post
- doorstep = door + step
- doorway = door + way
- downfall = down + fall
- downhill = down + hill
- download = down + load
- downright = down + right
- downriver = down + river
- downside = down + side
- downstairs = down + stairs
- downstream = down + stream
- downtime = down + time
- downtown = down + town
- downturn = down + turn
- downward = down + ward
- downwind = down + wind
- dreamboat = dream + boat
- dreamland = dream + land
- driveway = drive + way
- dropout = drop + out
- drugstore = drug + store
E 6 words
- earthquake = earth + quake
- everybody = every + body
- everyday = every + day
- everyman = every + man
- everyone = every + one
- eyeball = eye + ball
F 44 words
- fallback = fall + back
- fallout = fall + out
- farmhand = farm + hand
- farmhouse = farm + house
- fatherhood = father + hood
- fatherland = father + land
- fatherless = father + less
- fearsome = fear + some
- feedback = feed + back
- firearm = fire + arm
- firearms = fire + arms
- fireball = fire + ball
- firebreak = fire + break
- firefighter = fire + fighter
- firefly = fire + fly
- firehouse = fire + house
- firelight = fire + light
- fireman = fire + man
- firemen = fire + men
- fireplace = fire + place
- firepower = fire + power
- fireproof = fire + proof
- fireside = fire + side
- firewall = fire + wall
- firewood = fire + wood
- firework = fire + work
- firsthand = first + hand
- flashback = flash + back
- flashlight = flash + light
- flowerbed = flower + bed
- flowerpot = flower + pot
- flyover = fly + over
- flypaper = fly + paper
- football = foot + ball
- footfall = foot + fall
- footman = foot + man
- footstep = foot + step
- footwork = foot + work
- freeman = free + man
- freeway = free + way
- frenchman = french + man
- freshman = fresh + man
- friendship = friend + ship
- furthermore = further + more
G 24 words
- gameplay = game + play
- girlfriend = girl + friend
- godfather = god + father
- godmother = god + mother
- goodnight = good + night
- goodwill = good + will
- grandchild = grand + child
- grandfather = grand + father
- grandmother = grand + mother
- greenhouse = green + house
- groundless = ground + less
- groundwater = ground + water
- groundwork = ground + work
- guardhouse = guard + house
- guardrail = guard + rail
- guardroom = guard + room
- gunboat = gun + boat
- gunfire = gun + fire
- gunman = gun + man
- gunmen = gun + men
- gunpoint = gun + point
- gunpowder = gun + powder
- gunship = gun + ship
- gunshot = gun + shot
H 52 words
- handbag = hand + bag
- handball = hand + ball
- handbook = hand + book
- handgun = hand + gun
- handout = hand + out
- handover = hand + over
- handprint = hand + print
- handset = hand + set
- hangman = hang + man
- hangout = hang + out
- hangover = hang + over
- headband = head + band
- headboard = head + board
- headcount = head + count
- headland = head + land
- headless = head + less
- headlight = head + light
- headline = head + line
- headlong = head + long
- headman = head + man
- headmaster = head + master
- headroom = head + room
- headset = head + set
- headstrong = head + strong
- headway = head + way
- hearsay = hear + say
- heartbreak = heart + break
- heartburn = heart + burn
- heartland = heart + land
- hereafter = here + after
- hideout = hide + out
- highland = high + land
- highlight = high + light
- hillside = hill + side
- hilltop = hill + top
- homeland = home + land
- homework = home + work
- horseback = horse + back
- horsepower = horse + power
- hothead = hot + head
- hotshot = hot + shot
- houseboat = house + boat
- houseboy = house + boy
- housebreak = house + break
- household = house + hold
- housekeeping = house + keeping
- houseman = house + man
- houseplant = house + plant
- housewife = house + wife
- housewives = house + wives
- housework = house + work
- however = how + ever
I 1 words
K 3 words
- keyboard = key + board
- knockoff = knock + off
- knockout = knock + out
L 35 words
- ladyship = lady + ship
- landfall = land + fall
- landlady = land + lady
- landline = land + line
- landlord = land + lord
- landmark = land + mark
- landowner = land + owner
- landslide = land + slide
- landward = land + ward
- lawless = law + less
- lawman = law + man
- lawsuit = law + suit
- layman = lay + man
- layout = lay + out
- layover = lay + over
- leadership = leader + ship
- leftover = left + over
- letdown = let + down
- lifeblood = life + blood
- lifeguard = life + guard
- lifeless = life + less
- lifeline = life + line
- lifelong = life + long
- lifestyle = life + style
- lifetime = life + time
- lighthouse = light + house
- lightweight = light + weight
- lineman = line + man
- lineup = line + up
- listless = list + less
- longtime = long + time
- lookout = look + out
- lordship = lord + ship
- lowdown = low + down
- lowlife = low + life
M 22 words
- madhouse = mad + house
- madman = mad + man
- mailman = mail + man
- mainland = main + land
- manhole = man + hole
- manhood = man + hood
- manhunt = man + hunt
- mankind = man + kind
- manpower = man + power
- markdown = mark + down
- mastermind = master + mind
- masterpiece = master + piece
- meatball = meat + ball
- middleman = middle + man
- milkman = milk + man
- mindless = mind + less
- moonlight = moon + light
- moreover = more + over
- motherboard = mother + board
- motherhood = mother + hood
- motherland = mother + land
- motherless = mother + less
N 9 words
- newspaper = news + paper
- nightcap = night + cap
- nightclub = night + club
- nightfall = night + fall
- nightlife = night + life
- nightlight = night + light
- nightstand = night + stand
- nighttime = night + time
- notebook = note + book
O 65 words
- offhand = off + hand
- offline = off + line
- offload = off + load
- offscreen = off + screen
- offset = off + set
- offshore = off + shore
- offside = off + side
- offspring = off + spring
- offstage = off + stage
- oneself = one + self
- outback = out + back
- outboard = out + board
- outbreak = out + break
- outcast = out + cast
- outcome = out + come
- outdoor = out + door
- outfit = out + fit
- outgoing = out + going
- outhouse = out + house
- outlaw = out + law
- outlet = out + let
- outline = out + line
- outlook = out + look
- outpost = out + post
- output = out + put
- outright = out + right
- outrun = out + run
- outset = out + set
- outside = out + side
- outstanding = out + standing
- outtake = out + take
- outward = out + ward
- outwit = out + wit
- overall = over + all
- overboard = over + board
- overcast = over + cast
- overcome = over + come
- overdrive = over + drive
- overdue = over + due
- overhand = over + hand
- overhead = over + head
- overhear = over + hear
- overland = over + land
- overlap = over + lap
- overlay = over + lay
- overload = over + load
- overlook = over + look
- overlord = over + lord
- overnight = over + night
- overpass = over + pass
- overpay = over + pay
- overpower = over + power
- override = over + ride
- overrun = over + run
- oversee = over + see
- oversight = over + sight
- overstep = over + step
- overtake = over + take
- overthrow = over + throw
- overtime = over + time
- overturn = over + turn
- overview = over + view
- overweight = over + weight
- overwork = over + work
- ownership = owner + ship
P 30 words
- pageview = page + view
- paperback = paper + back
- paperclip = paper + clip
- paperweight = paper + weight
- paperwork = paper + work
- parkway = park + way
- passkey = pass + key
- passover = pass + over
- password = pass + word
- payback = pay + back
- paycheck = pay + check
- payday = pay + day
- payload = pay + load
- payoff = pay + off
- payout = pay + out
- pipeline = pipe + line
- playback = play + back
- playground = play + ground
- playhouse = play + house
- pointless = point + less
- postcard = post + card
- postman = post + man
- postmaster = post + master
- postwar = post + war
- pothole = pot + hole
- powerboat = power + boat
- powerhouse = power + house
- powerless = power + less
- printout = print + out
- proofread = proof + read
Q 2 words
- quakeproof = quake + proof
- quarterback = quarter + back
R 18 words
- railroad = rail + road
- rainbow = rain + bow
- raindrop = rain + drop
- rainfall = rain + fall
- rainstorm = rain + storm
- rainwater = rain + water
- readout = read + out
- redhead = red + head
- riverbed = river + bed
- riverside = river + side
- roadmap = road + map
- rockfall = rock + fall
- rooftop = roof + top
- roommate = room + mate
- runaway = run + away
- rundown = run + down
- runoff = run + off
- runway = run + way
S 60 words
- schoolboy = school + boy
- schoolgirl = school + girl
- screenplay = screen + play
- seabed = sea + bed
- seahorse = sea + horse
- seaside = sea + side
- seatbelt = seat + belt
- selfless = self + less
- setback = set + back
- shipload = ship + load
- shipyard = ship + yard
- shootout = shoot + out
- shopkeeper = shop + keeper
- shoreline = shore + line
- shotgun = shot + gun
- showdown = show + down
- shutdown = shut + down
- sidearm = side + arm
- sideboard = side + board
- sidekick = side + kick
- sidelight = side + light
- sideline = side + line
- sidestep = side + step
- sidewalk = side + walk
- sightseeing = sight + seeing
- sisterhood = sister + hood
- snowball = snow + ball
- softball = soft + ball
- somebody = some + body
- someday = some + day
- somehow = some + how
- someone = some + one
- sometime = some + time
- somewhat = some + what
- spotlight = spot + light
- springtime = spring + time
- standoff = stand + off
- standpoint = stand + point
- standstill = stand + still
- stepbrother = step + brother
- stepchild = step + child
- stepfather = step + father
- stepmother = step + mother
- stepsister = step + sister
- stepson = step + son
- stopwatch = stop + watch
- storehouse = store + house
- storeroom = store + room
- stormcloud = storm + cloud
- storyboard = story + board
- strongman = strong + man
- sunburn = sun + burn
- sunday = sun + day
- sundown = sun + down
- sunflower = sun + flower
- sunlight = sun + light
- sunroof = sun + roof
- sunscreen = sun + screen
- sunset = sun + set
- sweetheart = sweet + heart
T 25 words
- takeaway = take + away
- takedown = take + down
- takeoff = take + off
- takeout = take + out
- takeover = take + over
- tasteless = taste + less
- teamwork = team + work
- textbook = text + book
- thoughtless = thought + less
- throughout = through + out
- throwaway = throw + away
- throwback = throw + back
- tiebreak = tie + break
- timeless = time + less
- timeline = time + line
- timeout = time + out
- timetable = time + table
- topside = top + side
- touchdown = touch + down
- townhouse = town + house
- troublesome = trouble + some
- turnoff = turn + off
- turnout = turn + out
- turnover = turn + over
- turntable = turn + table
U 17 words
- undercut = under + cut
- underfoot = under + foot
- underground = under + ground
- underhand = under + hand
- underline = under + line
- underpass = under + pass
- underpay = under + pay
- underpower = under + power
- undersea = under + sea
- underside = under + side
- understand = under + stand
- undertake = under + take
- underwater = under + water
- underway = under + way
- underwood = under + wood
- underworld = under + world
- update = up + date
V 1 words
W 53 words
- walkaway = walk + away
- walkout = walk + out
- walkway = walk + way
- wallpaper = wall + paper
- warhead = war + head
- warlord = war + lord
- wartime = war + time
- wasteland = waste + land
- watchdog = watch + dog
- watchman = watch + man
- waterbed = water + bed
- waterfall = water + fall
- waterline = water + line
- waterman = water + man
- waterside = water + side
- waterway = water + way
- wayside = way + side
- wayward = way + ward
- webpage = web + page
- weightless = weight + less
- wellspring = well + spring
- whatever = what + ever
- whatnot = what + not
- wheelchair = wheel + chair
- wheelhouse = wheel + house
- wholesome = whole + some
- widespread = wide + spread
- wildfire = wild + fire
- wildlife = wild + life
- willpower = will + power
- windfall = wind + fall
- windpipe = wind + pipe
- without = with + out
- witless = wit + less
- womanhood = woman + hood
- wonderland = wonder + land
- woodland = wood + land
- woodman = wood + man
- woodsman = woods + man
- woodwork = wood + work
- wordplay = word + play
- workbook = work + book
- workday = work + day
- workhorse = work + horse
- workhouse = work + house
- workload = work + load
- workman = work + man
- workout = work + out
- workplace = work + place
- workroom = work + room
- workshop = work + shop
- worldwide = world + wide
- wormwood = worm + wood
Y 1 words
How to read the list
Each line gives the compound first, then the two parts in order. The order
matters. English compounds are head-final, which means the second part carries
the core meaning and the first part narrows it: a houseboat is a
boat, a boathouse is a house. That is why reversing a compound
usually produces either a different word or no word at all.
Words that appear on both sides
Some parts are unusually productive and show up at the front of some
compounds and the back of others. Those are the words a bridge can be built
through, and they have pages of their own. The full table of
all 141 of them, with counts, is on the
compound word hinges page.
Using this list
It is free to copy for teaching, word games, crossword setting or anything
else. There is no tracking on this page and no account to make. If you want to
use the words rather than read them, the game gives you three bridges a day.
Play today's three bridges