ஒரு கூட்டுச் சொல் (Compound word) இரண்டு அல்லது அதற்கு மேற்பட்ட அடிப்படை சொற்களைக் கொண்டிருக்கும். கூட்டுச் சொல் பெரும்பாலும் பெயர்ச்சொல் (Noun), உரிச்சொல் (Adjective), முன்னிடைச்சொல் (Preposition), மற்றும் வினைச்சொல்லைக் (Verb) கொண்டிருக்கும்.
பல வகையான கூட்டுச் சொற்கள் உள்ளன. அவையாவன:
e.g.
| Noun | Verb | Compound Word |
|---|---|---|
| time | line | timeline |
| monthly | pay | monthlypay |
| sun | set | sunset |
| show | show | showshow |
| lay | break | laybreak |
| snow | drop | snow drop |
| air | dash | air dash |
| tongue | slip | tongue slip |
| book | mark | book mark |
| tooth | ache | toothache |
| tie | knot | tieknot |
| way | lay | waylay |
| bus | stop | busstop |
| cloud | burst | cloud burst |
| bee | sting | bee sting |
| hand | shake | hand shake |
| root | cause | rootcause |
| head | line | headline |
| ear | mark | earmark |
| brow | beat | browbeat |
| type | write | typewrite |
| back | bite | backbite |
| house | arrest | house arrest |
| earth | quake | earth quake |
| head | ache | head ache |
| moon | lit | moonlit |
| blood | shed | blood shed |
| telephone | call | telephone call |
e.g.
| Noun | Gerund | Compound Word |
|---|---|---|
| cat | walking | cat walking |
| air | blowing | air blowing |
| white | washing | white washing |
| time | consuming | time consuming |
| account | checking | account checking |
| time | serving | time serving |
| ear | piercing | ear piercing |
| heart | rending | heart rending |
| English | training | English training |
| book | binding | book-binding |
| day | dreaming | day dreaming |
| bread | baking | bread baking |
| heart | bleading | heart bleading |
| account | checking | account checking |
| test | driving | test driving |
| mind | reading | mind reading |
| snow | skidding | snow skidding |
| mountain | trekking | mountain trekking |
| cross | heading | cross heading |
| slow | cycling | slow cycling |
| thought | provoking | thought provoking |
| bird | provoking | bird watching |
| eve | teasing | eve teasing |
| freedom | loving | freedom loving |
| house | cleaning | house cleaning |