Exam vocabulary goal

CELPIP vocabulary

Build natural, practical vocabulary for clear communication in Canadian study, work and everyday life.

Study vocabulary by level Explore the CELPIP course

What you'll find

176 connected words

Explore meanings and examples, hear words in the study packs, and practise spelling. Each word has one home in the shared curriculum.

Skills and tasks in this collection

Part 2 — Reading to Apply a DiagramListening Parts 1–3; Reading Parts 1 & 3 — Everyday/workplace informationWriting Task 2; Speaking Task 7 — Survey response / Expressing opinionsWriting Tasks 1–2; Speaking Tasks 1–8 — Organising ideas

Start learning

Featured CELPIP words

aboveSimple meaningIn a higher position than something.Maps & Directions

accidentSimple meaningAn unexpected event that causes injury or damage.WHS & Safety

acrossSimple meaningFrom one side to the other side.Maps & Directions

advantageSimple meaningSomething that makes a situation better or more useful.Paraphrasing

advertisingSimple meaningThe activity of telling people about products or services to encourage sales.Paraphrasing

agreeSimple meaningTo have the same opinion as someone.Paraphrasing

allowSimple meaningTo let someone do something or make something possible.Paraphrasing

allowanceB2TBC · nounSimple meaningExtra money for a specific purpose.Employment Conditions

alongSimple meaningFollowing the length or direction of something.Maps & Directions

AlthoughSimple meaningUsed to introduce a fact that contrasts with another fact.Cohesive Devices

annual leaveSimple meaningPaid time away from work that an employee can take each year.Employment Conditions

applySimple meaningTo formally ask for a job, course or permission.Jobs & Recruitment

As a resultSimple meaningUsed to introduce the consequence of something.Cohesive Devices

at the end ofSimple meaningAt the final point or part of something.Maps & Directions

banSimple meaningTo officially forbid something.Paraphrasing

behindSimple meaningAt the back of something.Maps & Directions

belowSimple meaningIn a lower position than something.Maps & Directions

bendSimple meaningA curve or change of direction in a road or path.Maps & Directions

beneficialSimple meaningHaving a helpful or positive effect.Paraphrasing

benefitB1/ˈbenɪfɪt/ · noun;verbSimple meaningA good result or advantage.Employment Conditions

besideSimple meaningNext to someone or something.Maps & Directions

beyondSimple meaningFurther away than a particular place or point.Maps & Directions

breakSimple meaningA short period of rest during an activity.Employment Conditions

briefingB2TBC · nounSimple meaningA short information meeting.Procedures & Training

casualSimple meaningDescribing work without a firm advance commitment to an ongoing pattern of work.Employment Conditions

causeSimple meaningTo make something happen.Paraphrasing

changeSimple meaningTo become different or make something different.Paraphrasing

cheapSimple meaningCosting little money.Paraphrasing

childrenSimple meaningPeople who are not yet adults.Paraphrasing

commonSimple meaningFound or happening often.Paraphrasing

competencySimple meaningThe ability to perform a particular task to the required standard.Procedures & Training

ConsequentlySimple meaningAs a result of something already mentioned.Cohesive Devices

continueSimple meaningTo keep doing something or happening.Maps & Directions

contractB2/kˈɒntɹakt/ · noun;verbSimple meaningA formal agreement; as a verb, to become smaller or make an agreement.Employment Conditions

cornerSimple meaningThe place where two sides, edges or roads meet.Maps & Directions

costSimple meaningThe amount of money needed to buy or do something.Paraphrasing

countrySimple meaningA nation with its own government and territory.Paraphrasing

crimeSimple meaningAn act that breaks the law.Paraphrasing

crossSimple meaningTo move from one side to the other.Maps & Directions

crossroadsSimple meaningA place where two roads cross each other.Maps & Directions

difficultSimple meaningNot easy to do or understand.Paraphrasing

disadvantageSimple meaningSomething that makes a situation less favourable.Paraphrasing

disagreeSimple meaningTo have a different opinion.Paraphrasing

effectSimple meaningA change produced by a cause.Paraphrasing

elderly peopleSimple meaningPeople who are in the later stages of life.Paraphrasing

emergencySimple meaningA serious situation requiring immediate action.WHS & Safety

employeeB1TBC · nounSimple meaningA worker.Jobs & Recruitment

encourageSimple meaningTo give someone support or a reason to do something.Paraphrasing

entitlementC1TBC · nounSimple meaningA benefit or right you should receive.Employment Conditions

entranceB1TBC · nounSimple meaningThe way into a place.Maps & Directions

evacuationSimple meaningThe organised movement of people away from danger.WHS & Safety

exitB1TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningThe way out.WHS & Safety

expensiveSimple meaningCosting a lot of money.Paraphrasing

facingSimple meaningPositioned with the front towards something.Maps & Directions

fireSimple meaningBurning that produces heat and flames.WHS & Safety

first aidSimple meaningImmediate basic help given to someone who is injured or suddenly ill.WHS & Safety

flexibleSimple meaningAble to change to suit different needs.Employment Conditions

followSimple meaningTo go along a route or act according to instructions.Maps & Directions

For exampleSimple meaningUsed to introduce a specific illustration of a point.Cohesive Devices

For instanceSimple meaningUsed to introduce a particular example.Cohesive Devices

full-timeSimple meaningInvolving the normal complete working or study hours.Employment Conditions

FurthermoreC1/fˌɜːðəmˈɔː/ · adverbSimple meaningUsed to add another point that supports what you have said.Cohesive Devices

go pastSimple meaningTo move beyond a place without stopping there.Maps & Directions

guidelineB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAdvice about how to do something.Procedures & Training

handbookB2TBC · nounSimple meaningA guide containing important information.Procedures & Training

harmfulSimple meaningCausing damage or injury.Paraphrasing

hazardB2TBC · nounSimple meaningA possible source of danger.WHS & Safety

healthSimple meaningThe physical and mental condition of a person.Paraphrasing

healthcareSimple meaningServices that maintain or improve people's health.Paraphrasing

hoursSimple meaningUnits of time equal to sixty minutes.Employment Conditions

HoweverSimple meaningUsed to introduce a contrast or qualification.Cohesive Devices

importantSimple meaningHaving great value or significance.Paraphrasing

improveSimple meaningTo become better or make something better.Paraphrasing

In additionSimple meaningUsed to introduce another point.Cohesive Devices

In conclusionSimple meaningUsed to introduce the final judgement or summary.Cohesive Devices

In contrastSimple meaningUsed to show a clear difference.Cohesive Devices

in front ofSimple meaningIn a position before the front of something.Maps & Directions

in the futureSimple meaningAt a time after the present.Paraphrasing

incidentB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAn event or problem.WHS & Safety

inductionB2TBC · nounSimple meaningIntroductory training.Procedures & Training

injuryB1/ˈɪnd‍ʒəɹi/ · nounSimple meaningPhysical harm to a person's body.WHS & Safety

inspectionB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAn official check.WHS & Safety

internationalSimple meaningInvolving more than one country.Paraphrasing

internetSimple meaningThe worldwide system of connected computer networks.Paraphrasing

interviewB1TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningA formal question-and-answer meeting.Jobs & Recruitment

junctionB2TBC · nounSimple meaningA place where routes meet.Maps & Directions

lawSimple meaningA rule made and enforced by a government.Paraphrasing

leaveB1TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningApproved time off work.Employment Conditions

leftSimple meaningThe direction opposite to right.Maps & Directions

lessSimple meaningA smaller amount of something.Paraphrasing

localSimple meaningRelating to a nearby area or community.Paraphrasing

manualB2TBC · noun;adjectiveSimple meaningAn instruction book.Procedures & Training

manySimple meaningA large number of countable things.Paraphrasing

mediaB1/mˈiːdiːə/ · plural nounSimple meaningWays of sharing information widely, such as newspapers, television and websites.Paraphrasing

middleSimple meaningThe central part of something.Maps & Directions

modernSimple meaningRelating to the present time or recent methods.Paraphrasing

moneySimple meaningCoins, notes or funds used to pay for things.Paraphrasing

moreSimple meaningA greater amount or number.Paraphrasing

nearSimple meaningA short distance from something.Maps & Directions

negativeB2/nˈɛɡətˌɪv/ · adjective;nounSimple meaningExpressing 'no', showing absence, or having an unwanted effect; also, a value below zero.Paraphrasing

next toSimple meaningDirectly beside something.Maps & Directions

noticeSimple meaningA written announcement giving information or instructions.Employment Conditions

nowadaysSimple meaningAt the present time, especially compared with the past.Paraphrasing

On the one handSimple meaningUsed to introduce one side of an argument.Cohesive Devices

On the other handSimple meaningUsed to introduce an opposing point.Cohesive Devices

oppositeB1TBC · preposition;adjectiveSimple meaningAcross from.Maps & Directions

outsideSimple meaningNot inside a place or within a boundary.Maps & Directions

OverallB2/ˌə‍ʊvəɹˈɔːl/ · adjective;adverbSimple meaningConsidering everything together.Cohesive Devices

overtimeB2TBC · nounSimple meaningExtra working hours.Employment Conditions

parentsSimple meaningA person's mother and father, or people acting in those roles.Paraphrasing

part-timeSimple meaningInvolving fewer than the normal full working or study hours.Employment Conditions

pastSimple meaningBeyond a place or point.Maps & Directions

pathSimple meaningA narrow route for walking.Maps & Directions

peopleSimple meaningHuman beings considered together.Paraphrasing

permanentSimple meaningIntended to continue for a long time without a fixed end.Employment Conditions

policyB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAn agreed plan or set of rules that guides decisions.Procedures & Training

pollutionSimple meaningHarmful substances or effects introduced into the environment.Paraphrasing

positionSimple meaningA place, location or job.Jobs & Recruitment

positiveB2/pˈɒzɪtˌɪv/ · adjective;nounSimple meaningHopeful or helpful, expressing 'yes', or showing presence; also, a value above zero.Paraphrasing

preventSimple meaningTo stop something from happening.Paraphrasing

problemSimple meaningA difficulty that needs attention or a solution.Paraphrasing

prohibitedB2/pɹəhˈɪbɪtɪd/ · verb;adjectiveSimple meaningOfficially forbidden or not allowed.WHS & Safety

protectiveSimple meaningDesigned to keep someone or something safe.WHS & Safety

protective equipment / PPESimple meaningEquipment worn or used to reduce exposure to workplace hazards.WHS & Safety

provideSimple meaningTo give or make something available.Paraphrasing

public transportSimple meaningShared passenger services such as buses and trains.Paraphrasing

punishmentSimple meaningA penalty given for breaking a rule or law.Paraphrasing

rateSimple meaningA measure of how often something happens or its level relative to another quantity.Employment Conditions

recordSimple meaningTo write down or store information for future use.Procedures & Training

recruiterB2TBC · nounSimple meaningA person who hires staff.Jobs & Recruitment

reduceSimple meaningTo make something smaller in amount or degree.Paraphrasing

regulationB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAn official rule.WHS & Safety

reportB1TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningA formal document that presents information.Procedures & Training

requireB2TBC · verbSimple meaningTo need something or officially say it must be done.Paraphrasing

requirementSimple meaningSomething that is needed or must be done.Jobs & Recruitment

resultSimple meaningSomething that happens because of an action or event.Paraphrasing

rightSimple meaningThe direction opposite to left.Maps & Directions

riskSimple meaningThe possibility of harm or an unwanted outcome.WHS & Safety

rosterB2TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningA work schedule.Employment Conditions

roundaboutB1TBC · nounSimple meaningA circular traffic junction.Maps & Directions

résumé / CVSimple meaningA document summarising a person's education, skills and work experience.Jobs & Recruitment

safe / unsafeSimple meaningProtected from danger, or involving a risk of harm.WHS & Safety

safetyB1TBC · nounSimple meaningProtection from danger.WHS & Safety

salaryB1TBC · nounSimple meaningRegular pay for a job.Employment Conditions

schoolSimple meaningAn institution where students receive education.Paraphrasing

sessionSimple meaningA period set aside for a particular activity.Procedures & Training

shiftB1TBC · noun;verbSimple meaningA work period.Employment Conditions

sick leaveSimple meaningTime away from work because of illness or injury.Employment Conditions

sideSimple meaningAn outer part or surface, or one of two opposing areas.Maps & Directions

skillA2TBC · nounSimple meaningSomething you can do well.Jobs & Recruitment

societySimple meaningPeople living together in an organised community.Paraphrasing

solutionSimple meaningA way to solve a problem.Paraphrasing

someSimple meaningAn unspecified amount or number.Paraphrasing

standardSimple meaningAn accepted level of quality or a required measure.Procedures & Training

straightSimple meaningWithout a bend or change of direction.Maps & Directions

studentsSimple meaningPeople who are studying.Paraphrasing

superannuationSimple meaningMoney saved and invested to help fund retirement, especially through employment in Australia.Employment Conditions

supervisorSimple meaningA person responsible for overseeing other people's work.Procedures & Training

T-junctionSimple meaningA junction where one road meets another in the shape of a T.Maps & Directions

ThereforeSimple meaningFor that reason; introducing a logical result.Cohesive Devices

thinkSimple meaningTo have an opinion or use your mind to consider something.Paraphrasing

throughSimple meaningFrom one side or end to the other within something.Maps & Directions

To begin withSimple meaningUsed to introduce the first point or stage.Cohesive Devices

tourismSimple meaningTravel for pleasure and the services that support it.Paraphrasing

towardsSimple meaningIn the direction of something.Maps & Directions

traditionalC1/tɹɐdˈɪʃənə‍l/ · adjectiveSimple meaningFollowing customs or ways of doing things passed down over time.Paraphrasing

trainingSimple meaningInstruction and practice to develop skills.Procedures & Training

turnSimple meaningTo change direction.Maps & Directions

underneathSimple meaningDirectly below something.Maps & Directions

vacancyB2TBC · nounSimple meaningAn available position.Jobs & Recruitment

wageB1TBC · nounSimple meaningHourly or weekly pay.Employment Conditions

warningSimple meaningA statement or signal that tells people about possible danger.WHS & Safety

winding roadSimple meaningA road with many bends.Maps & Directions

workSimple meaningActivity done to achieve something, especially as a job.Paraphrasing

workersSimple meaningPeople who do a job or particular work.Paraphrasing

young peopleSimple meaningPeople in the earlier stages of life, especially teenagers and young adults.Paraphrasing