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Compound Nouns

A compound word is one word created by adding two words together. In Spanish, compound nouns are often created by attaching the plural form of a noun to the base of a verb. These words always look plural and sometimes even look feminine, but a compound noun is always masculine and is the same in its singular and plural form.

For example:

  • abre (opens) + latas (cans) = el abrelatas (the can opener) or los abrelatas (the can openers)

  • toca (plays) + discos (records) = el tocadiscos (the record player) or los tocadiscos (the record players)

  • rasca (scrapes) + cielos (skies) = el rascacielos (the skyscraper) or los rascacielos (the skyscrapers)

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