A Sanskrit compound is more than two words pushed together. Follow a worked example to see what each member contributes, where the head is and how the compact form opens into an analytic phrase.
one who has much rice
बहुbahu
much
व्रीहिvrīhi
rice
The head is outside the compound
The compound does not name either “much” or “rice.” It describes a person outside the compound who possesses much rice.
Analytic paraphrase
bahur vrīhiḥ yasya saḥ
In English
one whose rice is much
The head is the part that the whole compound is fundamentally naming. Finding it separates the four broad structures.
The first member depends on or qualifies the second. This covers tatpuruṣa and its classroom subtypes.
The first member governs the second and the whole expression becomes indeclinable, as in avyayībhāva.
The members are coordinated as equals. The analytic paraphrase supplies “and,” as in dvandva.
Neither member names the referent. Together they describe an external person or thing, as in bahuvrīhi.
Why there is no free-form classifier
The same visible members can admit different analyses when their meaning or context changes. This tool therefore presents checked examples and never labels an arbitrary word from spelling alone.
Study one checked example
Hide it and try nearby
Compare every difference
Explain the rule aloud
Mix it with older forms
