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Gobblefunk Word Inventor: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Gobblefunk Word Inventor is a free printable English worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children choose two real words, keep the best bit of each, and blend them into one splendid new word. Then they say what it means and put it in a sentence. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children work through a short set of steps. They choose two real words they love the sound of, chop each word, and keep the best bit. They blend the bits into one new word and say it out loud. Then they choose a word class, write a meaning, and note which words it comes from. There are lines for writing and boxes for drawing or notes.
- Choose two real words that you love the sound of.
- Chop each word and keep the best bit.
- Blend the bits into one new word. Say it out loud.
- Choose its word class: noun, verb or adjective.
- Write what it means and which words it comes from.
- My new word: ______ (word class) Meaning: Made from:
Worked example: two ways to blend
Invent a word from glitter and stomp.
This example uses different words from the sheet. It shows that the same two words can blend in more than one way, so there is no single right answer.
Method 1: start of one word, end of the other- Choose two real words: glitter and stomp.
- Keep the start of glitter: gl.
- Keep the end of stomp: omp.
- Join the bits: glomp. Say it out loud.
- It sounds like something you do, so it is a verb. Meaning: to stomp about in a sparkly way.
- Keep the start of stomp: st.
- Keep the end of glitter: itter.
- Join the bits: stitter. Say it out loud.
- It sounds like a thing you can hear, so it is a noun. Meaning: the shiny little noise of tiny feet.
How to build a gobblefunk word
Pick words you love
Choose two real words with a sound you enjoy. Words that feel fun to say, such as ones that sound bouncy or soft, often blend best.
Chop and keep
Say each word slowly and listen for where it breaks. Keep the bit that sounds the most exciting and leave the rest.
Blend and test
Join the two bits and say the new word aloud. If it is hard to say, change a letter or swap the order of the bits.
Give it a job
Decide whether it names something, describes something or is something you do. Then write its meaning and the words it comes from.
Where does gobblefunk come from?
Gobblefunk is the word the BFG uses in Roald Dahl's book The BFG for his own muddled, made up way of speaking. The giant mixes up real words, changes sounds and invents new ones, and the result is funny and easy to understand. Children enjoy it because it shows that language is something they can play with, not only something to follow.
Real English has plenty of blended words too. Some words were made by joining parts of two others, and we use them every day without noticing. Blending asks children to think about how words are built. They have to hear sounds, spot prefixes and root words, and decide what a word means. That is useful for spelling and for reading new words.
Fun facts about invented words
- Roald Dahl wrote The BFG, and the giant in it speaks a muddled language called gobblefunk.
- Writers have made up new words for hundreds of years. Some of them became part of everyday English.
- A word made by blending parts of two other words is sometimes called a portmanteau word.
- Brunch is a blend of breakfast and lunch. Smog is a blend of smoke and fog.
- Lewis Carroll made up the word chortle for a story. It mixes the sounds of chuckle and snort.
Skills and curriculum link
- Blending word parts
- Prefixes and root words
- Word classes
- Writing a dictionary entry
- Writing a sentence
- Creative vocabulary
Ideas to help children think about words
- Listen firstSay words out loud before chopping them. Children often find the best break by hearing where the word naturally splits into beats.
- PrefixesA prefix goes at the start of a word and changes its meaning. For example, un at the front of a word can turn it into its opposite.
- Root wordsA root word is the main part that other words grow from. Spotting it helps children see how words belong to the same family.
- Word classesA noun names something. A verb is a doing or being word. An adjective describes a noun. Ask which job the new word does in a sentence.
Key words
- BlendJoin parts of two words together to make one new word.
- PrefixA group of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning.
- Root wordThe main part of a word that other words can be built from.
- NounA word that names a person, place or thing.
- VerbA word that tells you what someone does or is.
- AdjectiveA word that describes a noun.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the example aloud together. Say each word and each new word slowly so children hear the sounds.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice. Then let children work alone, and ask them to share their word with a partner who guesses the meaning.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Ask, "Why did you keep that bit?" The thinking matters as much as the word.
- Come back to it another day with two new words. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give a list of fun sounds and short words to mix, such as squish, crunch, bubble and zoom. Ask the child to say two aloud and chop each where it sounds best. Blend the first word together, then let them write the meaning in their own words.
To stretch confident children
Invent a second word using a prefix, then write a short dictionary entry for it with an example sentence. Check that the prefix changes the meaning in a way that makes sense. Swap entries with a partner and ask them to explain what the word means.
Make it a game
Hold a word fair. Everyone reads out their word and the others guess the meaning before it is revealed. Then the class votes for the most splendid sound. Give out a pretend prize for the funniest word and the best sentence.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child joins two whole words side by side and does not chop them.
Try thisAsk which bit of each word sounds best, and keep only that bit. Cover the rest of each word with a finger.
Watch forThe new word is very hard to say or read.
Try thisSay it aloud together. Change one letter or swap the order of the two bits until it feels easy to say.
Watch forThe word class does not match the meaning or the sentence.
Try thisTest it in a sentence. If it names a thing it is a noun. If it is something you do it is a verb. If it describes, it is an adjective.
Take it off the page
Word jar
Write real words on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Pick two without looking, chop them and blend. Keep the best new words on a wall list.
Creature names
Choose two animals and blend their names to invent a new creature. Draw it and write what it eats and where it lives.
Listen for invented words
Read a story with made up words aloud, such as The BFG. Stop whenever you hear a word you think was invented and talk about what it might mean.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Praise silly ideas and careful thinking. Ask them to read each new word aloud and explain what it means and where it comes from.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the word fair works well as a whole class finish.
Home educators
Print it for one child or several. Pair it with books, car journey word games and everyday talk. Children can make a new word each week and keep a home dictionary of their inventions.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children learn to hear syllables and sounds in words, and to tell nouns, verbs and adjectives apart. They also meet simple prefixes and see that some words belong to the same family.
After it, children can explore more prefixes and endings, use a dictionary with confidence, and choose more adventurous words in their own writing. Playing with word parts now makes spelling and reading harder words easier later.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Gobblefunk Word Inventor for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9) in Key Stage 2. Children who are a little younger or older can also enjoy it, with more or less help from an adult.
- What will children practise?
Children practise blending word parts, using prefixes and root words, and writing a dictionary entry and a sentence. They also practise choosing a word class and explaining where a word comes from.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Give a short list of fun sounds and words to mix, such as squish, crunch, bubble and zoom. Do the first blend together, then let your child try the next one alone.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour to their drawings if they like.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.