11+ Vocabulary Builder icon

Vocabulary Builder Study Notes

Combi-Words

📖Definition

A combi-word is a longer word that can be split into two smaller real words. These questions ask you to find the word that hides two new words inside it.

Knowledge Required

Know common compound words and word chunks, for example raincoat, football, afterthought and blackbird.

How To Answer

Try placing a split in different positions in the word.
Both parts must be real words on their own. A part that is only a prefix, suffix or random sound is not enough.
Check that the two smaller words appear in the same order as the original word.

✏️Example

Find the combi-word that can be split into two new words. afterthought

Solution

afterthought can be split into after and thought. Both are real words, so afterthought is the correct combi-word.

💡Multiple Choice Tip

Some wrong answers contain a tempting small word at the start or end, but the other part is not a proper word. Both parts must work.

💡Tips/hints

Look for common second words such as book, light, hand, house, work, time and thing.
If a word has a familiar ending, test that ending first, then see whether the remaining letters form a word.