Palabras compuestas interactive activity - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We need to combine one word from the left column with one word from the right column to form a real compound word in Spanish. Compound words are made by joining two words together to create a new meaning.

Left column (first part of compound word):
- TELA
- GUARDAR
- QUITAR
- CORTAR
- TRABAR
- ABRIR
- MATAR
- LAVAR
- GIRAR
- BALÓN

Right column (second part of compound word):
- UÑA
- VAJILLA
- ARAÑA
- LENGUA
- ESPALDAS
- CESTO
- SOL
- MOSCA
- LATA
- MANCHA

Now, let’s match them logically:

1. TELA + ? → “Telaraña” is a common word (spiderweb). So: TELARAÑA → matches with ARAÑA.
2. GUARDAR + ? → “Guardarropa” isn’t here, but “guardavajilla” is! That means dishwasher or dish rack. So: GUARDAVAJILLA → matches with VAJILLA.
3. QUITAR + ? → “Quitaesmalte” isn’t here, but “quitaúñas”? Not common. Wait — “quitamanchas”! Yes! Stain remover. So: QUITAMANCHAS → matches with MANCHA.
4. CORTAR + ? → “Cortauñas”! Nail clippers. So: CORTAUÑAS → matches with UÑA.
5. TRABAR + ? → “Trabalenguas”! Tongue twister. So: TRABALENGUAS → matches with LENGUA.
6. ABRIR + ? → “Abrelatas”! Can opener. So: ABRELATAS → matches with LATA.
7. MATAR + ? → “Matamoscas”! Fly swatter. So: MATAMOSCAS → matches with MOSCA.
8. LAVAR + ? → “Lavaplatos” isn’t here, but “lavacoches”? No. Wait — “lavaespaldas”? Not real. Hmm… maybe “lavamanos”? Not listed. Let’s check what’s left. We have “CESTO”, “SOL”, “ESPALDAS”. Oh! “Lavacarros”? Not here. Wait — perhaps we missed something. Actually, “lava” + “platos” not available. But look — “lava” + “espaldas”? No. Maybe it’s “lava” + “cesto”? Not real. Let’s hold on and come back.

Wait — let’s list all possible known compounds:

Known Spanish compound words from these parts:

- Telaraña (tela + araña)
- Guardavajilla (guardar + vajilla)
- Quitamanchas (quitar + mancha)
- Cortauñas (cortar + uña)
- Trabalenguas (trabar + lengua)
- Abrelatas (abrir + lata)
- Matamoscas (matar + mosca)
- Girasol (girar + sol) ← yes! Sunflower
- Baloncesto? Wait — “balón” + “cesto” = baloncesto? Actually, “baloncesto” comes from “balón” + “cesto” — yes! Basketball.
- Then what’s left for “lavar”? Only “espaldas” left? “Lavaespaldas”? Not a real word. Did we make a mistake?

Wait — let’s recount:

Left: 10 words
Right: 10 words

Used so far:

1. tela + araña → telaraña ✔
2. guardar + vajilla → guardavajilla ✔
3. quitar + mancha → quitamanchas ✔
4. cortar + uña → cortauñas ✔
5. trabar + lengua → trabalenguas ✔
6. abrir + lata → abrelatas ✔
7. matar + mosca → matamoscas ✔
8. girar + sol → girasol ✔
9. balón + cesto → baloncesto ✔

That leaves: lavar and espaldas

Is there a word “lavaespaldas”? Not really. But wait — maybe “lava” + “espaldas” is not correct. Perhaps we mismatched.

Alternative: Is “lava” + “platos” missing? But “platos” isn’t in the list. What about “lava” + “manos”? Not here.

Wait — maybe “lavar” goes with “espaldas” as “lavaespaldas”? Still not standard.

Hold on — perhaps “trabar” doesn’t go with “lengua”? But “trabalenguas” is very common.

Another idea: Maybe “lavar” + “vajilla”? But “guardar” already took “vajilla”.

Wait — let’s think differently. Maybe “lavar” + “platos” isn’t an option, but perhaps “lava” + “coches”? Not here.

Actually — I think I found the error. The word “lavaespaldas” is not real, but “lava” + “espaldas” might be intended as “lavaespaldas” — but that’s not correct.

Wait — perhaps “lavar” should pair with “manos”, but “manos” isn’t in the list.

Let me check online or recall: Is there a compound word “lavaespaldas”? No.

But wait — maybe “lavar” + “cesto”? “Lavacesto”? No.

Perhaps we assigned “balón + cesto” incorrectly? “Baloncesto” is correct.

Another possibility: “lavar” + “sol”? “Lavasol”? No.

Wait — maybe “trabar” + “espaldas”? “Trabaespaldas”? Not real.

I think there’s a mistake in our initial assumption. Let’s list all possible valid compound words from these roots:

Standard Spanish compound words:

- Telaraña
- Guardavajilla
- Quitamanchas
- Cortauñas
- Trabalenguas
- Abrelatas
- Matamoscas
- Girasol
- Baloncesto
- And... what’s left? Lavar + ?

Ah! Wait — “lava” + “platos” is common, but “platos” isn’t here. But “vajilla” is similar to “platos”, but we used it with “guardar”.

Unless... “guardar” can also go with “ropa” — but “ropa” isn’t here.

Perhaps “lavar” + “vajilla” is acceptable? “Lavavajilla” — yes! Dishwasher! That’s a real word!

So maybe:

- GUARDAR + ? → if not vajilla, then what? “Guardarropa” — but “ropa” not here.

Wait — “guardar” + “espaldas”? “Guardaespaldas” — YES! Bodyguard! That’s a real word!

Oh! That’s it!

So correction:

- GUARDAR + ESPALDAS → GUARDAESPALDAS (bodyguard)
- Then LAVAR + VAJILLA → LAVAVA JILLA (dishwasher)

Yes! That makes sense.

So let’s reassign:

1. TELA + ARAÑA → TELARAÑA
2. GUARDAR + ESPALDAS → GUARDAESPALDAS
3. QUITAR + MANCHA → QUITAMANCHAS
4. CORTAR + UÑA → CORTAUÑAS
5. TRABAR + LENGUA → TRABALENGUAS
6. ABRIR + LATA → ABRELATAS
7. MATAR + MOSCA → MATAMOSCAS
8. LAVAR + VAJILLA → LAVAVA JILLA
9. GIRAR + SOL → GIRASOL
10. BALÓN + CESTO → BALONCESTO

Perfect! All are real Spanish compound words.

Final Answer:
TELARAÑA
GUARDAESPALDAS
QUITAMANCHAS
CORTAUÑAS
TRABALENGUAS
ABRELATAS
MATAMOSCAS
LAVAVA JILLA
GIRASOL
BALONCESTO