Compound words with HOUSE

HOUSE is a hinge word: 17 words make a compound in front of it and 8 make one after it, so it can sit in the middle of a chain and hold two compounds together at once.

Words that go in front of HOUSE

Each of these makes a compound ending in HOUSE.

Words that follow HOUSE

Each of these makes a compound starting with HOUSE.

Why HOUSE joins on both sides

HOUSE is the most productive place-noun in English compounding: almost any activity can be turned into a building. FARMHOUSE, COURTHOUSE, POWERHOUSE and GREENHOUSE run one way; HOUSEWORK, HOUSEBOAT and HOUSEHOLD run the other.

Words that join HOUSE on either side

These words make a compound whichever side of HOUSE they sit on, usually with two unrelated meanings.

Bridges you can build through HOUSE

Put any word from the first list in front and any word from the second behind, and you have a three-word chain in which both neighbouring pairs join. Here are some of them.

Play a bridge

KEYSTONE is a free daily puzzle built entirely out of chains like these. You get the two ends and have to fill the two words in the middle. Three bridges a day, no account, no cookies.

Play today's KEYSTONE

Other hinge words

Each of these has a page like this one. There is also an index of all 27.

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