| A | B |
| Katniss Everdeen | The main character. |
| Gale Hawthorn | Katniss's best friend and hunting parter |
| Prim | Katniss's sister. |
| Peeta Mellark (Ch 2) | A baker's son. Also chosen for the Hunger Games. |
| Katniss's father (Ch 2) | Killed in a mine explosion |
| Katniss's mother | A healer. Became depressed when her husband died. |
| Haymitch Abernathy | A former winner of the Hunger Games. A drunk. |
| Punishment for rebellion | Why the Capitol created the Hunger Games. |
| Lottery | How the tributes are chosen |
| Bow and arrow | How Katniss likes to hunt. |
| Catnip | Gale's nickname for Katniss |
| Buttercup | Prim's cat |
| The Hob | District 12's black market |
| The Seam | The poorest part of District 12 |
| Freedom of speech | Not allowed |
| Panem | What used to be known as North America |
| Run away | What Gale wants to do |
| Celebrate | What people do after the reaping |
| Greasy Sae | A woman that buys meat form Katniss and Gale |
| Madge | The mayor's daughter. |
| Tessera | Food credit for entering the reaping an extra time. |
| Divided | How the Capitol keeps the rich and poor feeling. |
| Effie Trinket | A woman from the Capitol who draws the tributes names. |
| Peacekeepers | The Capitol's police/military force. |