Compound Words

Level 6Sounds Like samāsa

A compound is usually two words written as one: आमा and बुबा make आमाबुबा, and घर and जग्गा make घरजग्गा.

How It Works

A compound is made by joining two words. The result is written without a space (print sometimes puts a hyphen between the parts) and acts as a single word.

TypeExampleMeaning
both thingsआमाबुबाmother and father
both thingsघरजग्गाhouse and land
ofराजकुमारprince, the son of a king
ofजन्मदिनbirthday, the day of birth

The first kind lists two things that belong together, so the compound means both. The second kind joins two words where the first says of what or whose.

The postposition goes after the whole compound: आमाबुबालाई, राजकुमारले. The plural हरू also goes at the end: आमाबुबाहरू.

Many compounds use Sanskrit-based words (राजकुमार), and some join two everyday words (छोराछोरी). A dictionary lists each compound, so check the meaning before you build one yourself.

Examples (5)

  1. आमाबुबा आज गाउँ जानुहुन्छ।

    Mother and father are going to the village today.

    आमाबुबा lists two people in one word.

  2. मैले घरजग्गा बेचेँ।

    I sold the house and land.

    घरजग्गा lists two kinds of property.

  3. राजकुमार भोलि पोखरा आउनुहुन्छ।

    The prince is coming to Pokhara tomorrow.

    राजकुमार joins राजा and कुमार.

  4. उहाँका छोराछोरी स्कुल जान्छन्।

    Their sons and daughters go to school.

    छोराछोरी is an everyday compound.

  5. आज मेरो जन्मदिन हो।

    Today is my birthday.

    जन्मदिन is the day of birth.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Compound WordsLevel 6

Learn This First

Compound words come from Sanskrit-based words.