Kindergarten CCSS Math Vocabulary Word List

*Terms with an asterisk are meant for teacher knowledge only—students do not need to
learn them.

above A preposition that indicates location of an object.

add To combine; put together two or more quantities.

addend Any number being added.

alike Same size, quantity, or amount.

attribute A characteristic of an object such as color, shape, size, etc.

behind A preposition that indicates location of an object.

below A preposition that indicates location of an object.

beside A preposition that indicates location of an object.

between A preposition that indicates location of an object.

bigger Larger in size.

by A preposition that indicates location of an object.

*Cardinality-- In mathematics, the cardinality of a set is a measure of the

"number of elements of the set". For example, the set A = {2, 4, 6} contains 3
elements, and therefore A has a cardinality of 3.

category A collection of things sharing a common attribute.

circle A figure with no sides and no vertices.

classify To sort into categories or to arrange into groups by attribute.

compare To decide if one number is greater than, less than, or equal to another
number . Can also be used to tell how shapes are alike or different.

compose To put together basic elements. (e.g., Numbers or geometric shapes.)

cone A geometric solid with a circular base and curved surface.

count To name units of a group one by one in order to determine the total
number. Counting tells how many things are in a set.

count back A way to subtract

count on A way to add.

cube A solid figure with six square faces.

curve A line that is rounded.

curved surface A rounded surface.

cylinder A geometric solid with two circular bases and a curved surface.

data A collection of information.

decompose To separate into basic elements. (e.g., Numbers or geometric shapes.)

difference The result when one number is subtracted from another.

different Not the same; unlike.

digit Any of the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.

equal Having the same amount. (e.g., 4 equals 3 + 1 means that 4 is the same
amount as 3 + 1.)

equation A number sentence with an equal sign. The amount on one side of the
equal sign has the same value as the amount on the other side.

expression A mathematical phrase without an equal sign.

fewer Smaller quantity or amount.

five frame A frame that helps users think of numbers in relation to 5

first The ordinal number matching the number one. First is before all the others in
position or order.

flat Smooth and even. (e.g., Plane shapes; 2-dimensional shapes.)

flat surface A surface that is not curved.

*fluency efficient, flexible and accurate methods for computing

graph A chart that shows mathematical information.

greater than Greater than is used to compare two numbers when the first number
is larger than the second number. (Symbols are not used in Kindergarten.)

heavier Having a weight that is greater than that of another object.

height A measure of how tall something is.

hexagon A plane figure with six straight sides and six vertices.

in front of A prepositional phrase that indicates location of an object.

larger More.

length A measure of how long something is.

less Having a value that is not as great as another value.

less than Less than is used to compare two numbers when the first number is
smaller than the second number. (Symbols are not used in Kindergarten.)

lighter Having a weight that is less than that of another object.

longer A word used when comparing the length of two objects.

make ten A strategy that uses combinations of numbers that add up to ten.

match One-to-one correspondence.

minus A symbol that shows subtraction; take away a quantity.

more Greater quantity or amount

next to A prepositional phrase that indicates location of an object.

number A number indicates how many or how much.

number pair A set of two numbers. (e.g., 1 and 4 are number pairs because
together they make another number.)

numeral A symbol used to represent a number. (e.g., 6)

object A material thing that can be seen and touched.

*One-to-One Correspondence
It is usually explained as the ability to match one object to one (corresponding)
number or object.
Example: 1 egg per egg carton holder. 12 total.
or
Example: 2 socks to 2 shoes.

plus A symbol that shows addition; combine; put together two or more quantities.

quantity How much there is or how many there are of something.

rectangle A plane figure with 4 sides and 4 square vertices.

row An arrangement of numbers or objects from left to right.

same Alike in size, quantity, or amount.

shorter A word used when comparing the height or length of two objects.

side A line segment that forms a shape on a 2-dimensional figure.

size How small or big something is.

smaller Having a size that is less than that of another object.

solid A shape that is not flat; an object that has three dimensions. (i.e. Height,
length, and width.)
sort To group or organize according to shared attributes.

sphere A geometric solid with a curved surface.

square A plane figure with 4 sides that are the same length and 4 square vertices.

*Subitize—subitizing is instantly seeing how many. Example—flash dice or dot

cards and student s are able to tell how many dots without having to count them

subtract Take away; remove; compare.

sum The answer to an addition problem.

take way To subtract

taller A word used when comparing the height of two objects.

ten One more than nine; one less than eleven.

ten frame A frame that helps users think of numbers in relation to 10

3-dimensional Solid shapes; having points or sides that are not all on one plane.

triangle A plane figure with 3 straight sides and 3 vertices.

2-dimensional Lying in a plane; flat.

vertex A corner of a figure. (plural - vertices; “corners”)

weight A measure of how heavy something is.

zero No objects; a cardinal number indicating the absence of all units.