Compound words, “palabras compuestas” are two separate words joined together to create a single word.
For example: parasol (sunshade) is formed from: para (it stops) + sol (sun) [it stops sun]
Often they are created for humour and many do not survive over time.
Here is a list of the most interesting and commonly used in Spanish today:
calientalibros – bookworm [calienta = he/she warms + libros = books]
cascanueces – nutcracker [casca = it cracks + nueces = walnuts]
comecocos – something that confuses/brainwashes [come = it eats + cocos = coconuts]
cortalápices – pencil sharpener [corta = it cuts + lápices = pencils]
cuentakilómetros – speedometer [cuenta = it counts + kilómetros = kilometres]
cuidaniños – baby-sitter [cuida = he/she looks after + niños = children]
cumpleaños – birthday [cumple = it fulfills + años = years]
descansapies – footrest [descansa = it rests + pies = feet]
escurreplatos – dish rack [escurre = it drains + platos = dishes]
espantapájaros – scarecrow [espanta = it scares + pájaros = birds]
guardaespaldas – bodyguard [guarda = looks after + espalda = back]
guardameta – goalkeeper [guarda = looks after + meta = goal]
guardarropas – wardrobe [guarda = it keeps/looks after + ropa = clothes]
lavaplatos – dishwasher [lava = it washes + platos = dishes]
limpiaparabrisas – windscreen wiper [limpia = it cleans + parabrisas = windscreen]
matafuegos – fire extinguisher [mata = it kills + fuegos = fires]
matamoscas – fly swatter [mata = it kills + moscas = flies]
matarratas – rat poison [mata = it kills + ratas = rats]
matasanos – medical quack [mata = he/she/it kills + sanos = healthy people]
pagaimpuestos – taxpayer [paga = he/she pays + impuestos = taxes]
parabrisas – windscreen [para = it stops + brisas = breezes]
paracaídas – parachute [para = it stops + caídas = falls]
parachoques – bumper [para = it stops + cheques = crashes]
paraguas – umbrella [para = it stops + aguas = water]
parasol – sunshade [para = it stops + sol = sun]
picaflor – womaniser [pica = he/she pecks + flor = flower]
portamonedas – purse/handbag [porta = it carries + monedas = coins]
portapapeles – letter rack [porta = it carries + papeles = sheets/paper]
portaplumas – penholder [porta = it carries + plumas = pens]
quitaesmalte – nailvarnish remover [quita = it removes/takes away + esmalte = varnish]
quitamanchas – stain remover [quita = it removes/takes away + manchas = stains]
quitanieve – snowplough [quita = it removes/takes away + nieve = snow]
rascacielos – skyscraper [rasca = it scratches/scrapes + cielos = skies]
rompecabezas – puzzle [rompe = it breaks + cabezas = heads]
sabelotodo – know-it-all [sabe = he/she knows + todo = everything]
sacacorchos – corkscrew [saca = it takes out + corchos = corks]
sacadineros – scam [saca = it takes out + dinero = money]
sacamuelas – dentist [saca = he/she/it takes out + muelas = teeth]
saltamontes – grasshopper [salta = it jumps + montes = hills]
salvavidas – lifeguard [salva = he/she/it saves + vidas = lives]
trabalenguas – tonguetwister [traba = it ties + lenguas = tongues]
… Y para terminar, mi favorito:
tragahombres – man-eater [traga = he/she swallows + hombres = men]