303-466-8830

For Inquiries, Call:

303-466-8830

#236 – Compound words in Spanish

Corporate Spanish Trainer

Compound words in Spanish

How to recognize them, how they are formed.

Mosaic street art in Valpariso, Chile – Un picaflor o un colibrí. Banner Photo is of a field of ‘girasoles’ en la Pampa Argentina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 236/365
Viernes, 17 de noviembre de 2017

 

Hi!

Thanks so much for stopping by Spanish Blog 365

 

Today let’s look at compound words. These are some of my favorite words in Spanish.

 

Compound words in Spanish

Las palabras compuestas

 

Here are some great everyday compound words in Spanish

1. rascacielos – skyscraper

2. parabrisas – windshield

3. abrelatas – can opener

4. paraguas – umbrella

5. lavaplatos – dishwasher

 

 

The way a compound word is formed in Spanish is like this

the first part is a verb
the second a noun

 

Por ejemplo:

1. rascacielos is made up of the verb rascar-to scrape or scratch and the noun cielosky (scrape the sky)

2. parabrisas is parar-to stop and brisas-breezes

3. abrelatas is abrir-to open and latas-cans  

4. paraguas is parar-to stop the waters

5. lavaplatos is lavar-to wash the plates/dishes

 

 

More Compounds Words in Spanish

 

Here are some others. Can you guess what they mean?

6. sacacorchossacar-to take out, corchos-cork

7. rompecabezasromper-to break, cabeza-head

8. girasolgirar-to turn, sol-sun

9. tocadiscostocar-to play, disco-disc

10. salvavidassalvar-to save, vidas-life

11. cazatalentoscazar-to hunt, talentos-talent

12. saltamontes saltar-to jump, montes-mountain

 

 

Extra credit triple compound word

Limpiaparabrisas

Look below for a translation, if needed, and the extra credit triple compound word

 

 

Action steps: Keep your eyes open for compound words in Spanish. There are a lot of them! Find the verb, see the noun.

 

 

Traducción

 

6. sacacorchoscorkscrew

7. rompecabezas – a puzzle

8. girasol – a sunflower

9. tocadiscos – record or a CD player

10. salvavidas – lifesaver

11. cazatalentos – talent hunter or cazacabezas=head hunter

12. saltamontes – a grasshopper

 

 

Extra credit triple compound word

Limpiaparabrisas – windshieldwipers (limpiar + parar + brisas)

Fotopicaflor = picar-to peck + flor=flower = a hummingbird

 

Do you have a favorite compound word in Spanish? Leave me a note and let me know.

Muchas gracias y hasta mañana,
Carolina

Previous

Next