Math Vocabulary for 2nd Grade
80 terms
JamWise Education TeamยทUpdated March 2026
In 2nd grade, students in the early elementary (K-2) band encounter 80 essential math vocabulary terms. These words form the foundation for classroom discussions, reading comprehension, written assignments, and standardized assessments. Mastering this vocabulary gives students the language they need to express their understanding with clarity and confidence.
Below you will find every math term for 2nd grade, organized by topic where applicable. Each term links to a detailed definition page with grade-level explanations, related vocabulary, and connections to JamWise learning resources.
counting
View topic hubEven number
A number you can split into 2 equal groups with none left over.
Odd number
A number that has 1 left over when split into 2 groups.
Skip count by 100s
Counting by hundreds: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500...
Skip count by 10s
Counting by tens: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50...
Skip count by 5s
Counting by fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25...
fractions
View topic hubFourths
Four equal parts that make a whole. Also called quarters.
Fraction
A number that shows part of a whole. Like one half or one third.
Halves
Two equal parts that make a whole.
Partition
To divide a shape into equal parts.
Thirds
Three equal parts that make a whole.
Whole
All the parts together. The complete thing.
geometry
View topic hubAngle
The space between two lines that meet at a point.
Congruent
Shapes that are exactly the same size and shape.
Pentagon
A flat shape with 5 sides and 5 corners.
Polygon
A flat shape with straight sides that is closed all the way around.
Quadrilateral
A flat shape with exactly 4 sides and 4 corners.
Rectangular prism
A solid shape like a box with 6 flat rectangular faces.
Rhombus
A flat shape with 4 sides that are all the same length. Like a tilted square.
Symmetry
When one half of a shape looks like a mirror copy of the other half.
Trapezoid
A flat shape with 4 sides. One pair of sides runs in the same direction.
measurement
View topic hubCentimeter
A small unit for measuring length. Smaller than an inch.
Foot
A unit of length. 1 foot equals 12 inches.
Inch
A small unit for measuring length. About the width of a quarter.
Measure
To find out how long, tall, or heavy something is.
Meter
A unit of length. 1 meter equals 100 centimeters.
Ruler
A tool for measuring how long something is.
Temperature
How hot or cold something is.
Unit
One single thing used for measuring.
operations
View topic hubArray
Objects lined up in rows and columns to make a rectangle.
Column
A line of things going up and down.
Equal groups
Groups that each have the same number of things.
Estimate
A smart guess that is close to the real answer.
Mental math
Solving a math problem in your head without paper.
Number sentence
A math statement using numbers and symbols. Like 5 + 3 = 8.
Regroup
Trading 10 ones for 1 ten, or 10 tens for 1 hundred, when adding or subtracting.
Repeated addition
Adding the same number over and over. Like 3 + 3 + 3 + 3.
Row
A line of things going across, left to right.
place-value
View topic hubExpanded form
Writing a number to show the value of each digit. Like 300 + 40 + 5.
Hundreds
Groups of one hundred. The hundreds place in a number.
Numeral
A written symbol that stands for a number. Like 7 or 42.
Standard form
Writing a number the regular way. Like 345.
Thousand
The number 1,000. Ten groups of one hundred.
Three-digit number
A number with a hundreds place, a tens place, and a ones place. Like 247.
Value
How much something is worth.
Word form
Writing a number using words. Like three hundred forty-five.
General math terms
Addend
A number being added to another number in an addition problem.
Bar graph
A graph that uses bars of different heights to show data.
Cents
The smallest unit of money. 100 cents make one dollar.
Clock
A tool that shows the time with hands or digits.
Compare numbers
To figure out which number is greater, less, or equal using >, <, or = signs.
Dime
A coin worth 10 cents. It is the smallest silver coin.
Doubles plus one
A strategy for adding. If you know 7 + 7 = 14, then 7 + 8 = 15.
Edge
The line where two faces of a solid shape meet.
Even
A number that can be split into two equal groups. It ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Face
A flat side of a solid shape.
Flat surface
A smooth side of a solid shape that is not curved.
Half past
Thirty minutes after the hour. The minute hand points to the 6.
Nickel
A coin worth 5 cents. It is silver and bigger than a penny.
Number bond
A picture showing how a number breaks into two parts. A circle connected to two smaller circles.
Odd
A number that cannot be split into two equal groups. It ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
Penny
A coin worth 1 cent. It is copper colored.
Picture graph
A graph that uses small pictures to show data.
Place value chart
A chart with columns for hundreds, tens, and ones to show what each digit means.
Quarter past
Fifteen minutes after the hour. The minute hand points to the 3.
Quarter to
Fifteen minutes before the next hour. The minute hand points to the 9.
Skip counting
Counting by jumping over numbers, like 2, 4, 6, 8 or 5, 10, 15, 20.
Sum
The answer to an addition problem.
Third
One of three equal parts of a whole.
Vertex
A corner point where edges meet on a shape.
Yard
A unit of length equal to 3 feet or 36 inches.