Have you heard of kangaroo words?

“A kangaroo word is a word that contains another word, in order, with the same or similar meaning.” – kangaroowords.com

Types of kangaroo words

Joey: A joey word is the synonym of a kangaroo word, contained within the pouch of the kangaroo word, with letters in the right order; usually the same part of speech.

Twin kangaroo word: A twin kangaroo word contains two joeys. For example, ‘container’ has ‘can’ and ‘tin’ in it. View more.

Grand kangaroo word: A grand kangaroo word is a kangaroo word with two joeys, one inside the other. For example, ‘alone’ has ‘lone’ and ‘one’ in it. View more.

Anti-kangaroo word: An anti-kangaroo word contains the antonym, not the synonym, of the kangaroo word. For example, ‘communicative’ contains ‘mute’. View more.

Spot the joey

Can you find the synonyms in these kangaroo words?

• action
• balderdash
• clue
• devilish
• exhausted
• feast
• irritated
• moisture

To find the joeys and more kangaroo words, visit this list of kangaroo words.

Find more quizzes at:

• Can you name the’ Kangaroo Words’ from their Joey?
• Kangaroo Words Quiz
• Kangaroo Words: Words That Contain Their Own Synonyms

Using kangaroo words

ESL Library provides instructions for Kangaroo Karuta, a card game for introducing vocabulary and/or reviewing synonyms and antonyms.

Is it too early to start training for our Literacy Month trivia event? As the above video suggests, kangaroo words could be good trivia quiz questions. Details on this year’s event will be announced closer to September.