Phase 3

Word Family Roots

Word Families & Compounds
~6 min

Builds on

known core words

Today

spot reusable word families

Feeds

Memory Builder

A familiar piece can anchor a larger word

น้ำ → น้ำแข็ง

water → ice

บ้าน → แม่บ้าน

house/home → housekeeper

ใจ → เข้าใจ

heart/mind → understand

ผี + เสื้อ → ผีเสื้อ

ghost + shirt → butterfly

The parts do NOT add up here. Learn it as one word.

มือ → มือถือ

hand → mobile phone

ทำ → ทำงาน

do → work

Use the family as a clue, not a formula

A shared written piece helps recognition, but the whole word still owns its meaning.

คน + ไทย → คนไทย

person + Thai → Thai person

Not every combination is like the ones above. This one means exactly what its parts say, and guessing works. Reach for the whole-word meaning when the parts do NOT add up.

Worked payoff — recover meaning from a known anchor

น้ำแข็ง

ice

น้ำ is the familiar anchor; the compound is learned as a whole.

Notice the familiar identity first, then confirm the complete word in review.

Where this goes next

Related lessons on the same skill