Addition Vocabulary
Every subject has its own language, and mathematics is no different. Knowing the correct vocabulary for addition means you can read any maths problem confidently and communicate your answers precisely.
Much of this vocabulary comes straight from Latin. "Addend" comes from addendum, meaning "a thing to be added"; "augend" comes from augendum, "a thing to be increased"; and "sum" comes from summa, meaning "the highest" or "total" — originally used because Roman accountants wrote their running total at the top of a column of figures, not the bottom.
Core Addition Terms
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addend | Any number being added | In 5 + 8, both 5 and 8 are addends |
| Augend | The first number in an addition (the one being added to) | In 5 + 8, the augend is 5 |
| Sum | The result of addition | 5 + 8 = 13; the sum is 13 |
| Plus | The operation of adding; also the name of the + sign | "5 plus 8 equals 13" |
| Total | Another word for sum | The total of 5 and 8 is 13 |
| Altogether | Used in word problems to mean the sum | "How many altogether?" means what is the sum? |
| More than | Indicates addition in word problems | "7 more than 5" = 5 + 7 = 12 |
| Carry / Regroup | Moving a digit to the next column when a column sums to 10 or more | In 47 + 36, the ones give 13; write 3, carry 1 |
Phrases That Mean Addition
In word problems, addition is often described without the word "add". Watch for these phrases:
- "increased by", "more than", "combined", "together", "in all", "in total", "sum of", "added to", "plus", "and"
Translation: 14 + 9 = 23
Understanding "More Than"
Be careful: "8 more than 5" means start at 5 and add 8, giving 13. Some students read it as 8 + 5 in that exact order — which gives the same answer here because addition is commutative, but clarity about the structure helps with subtraction problems later.
Key Takeaways
- Addends are the numbers being added; the sum is the result.
- Many phrases in word problems signal addition without using the word "add".
- The augend is the specific first number; all others are addends.
- Regrouping (carrying) is needed when a column total reaches 10 or more.
Practice: Name the Term
A short question tests one piece of addition vocabulary at a time. If you get it wrong (or leave it blank), we'll explain the term.