Best CELPIP Vocabulary List for Writing & Speaking

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Are your low CELPIP scores becoming a barrier to Canadian dreams? If yes, then this blog is the solution. Scoring high in this test is now only about knowing the grammar and format of the questions. It requires a strong vocabulary that will create a good impact on your responses. Whether it is the speaking section or the writing section, the ability to use good vocabulary in the response will surely help in scoring high. Here is a list of over 150 CELPIP vocabulary words that will help make your Canadian dream a reality.

In this CELPIP Vocabulary Guide, you will learn about essential word lists, usage tips, and strategies to help you expand your vocabulary and maximize your score.

Why CELPIP Vocabulary Matters?

In CELPIP, your ability to understand and use a wide range of words is constantly being tested:

Listening Section: You will hear a variety of accents and vocabulary in everyday and workplace contexts. Knowing synonyms and idioms helps in choosing the correct answers.
Reading Section: In this section, you will encounter texts that will have higher-level vocabulary, paraphrasing, and context-based meanings.
Writing Section: While writing your response, using good CELPIP vocabulary for Writing helps in improving tone and clarity.
Speaking Section: Using good CELPIP vocabulary for speaking enhances fluency. The more naturally and accurately you can use words, the higher your performance will be rated.

List of 150+ CELPIP Vocabulary Words:

Bookmark this list of vocabulary for CELPIP exam and use it while preparing for exam.

Transition Words:

Connector	Type	Example
furthermore	Formal	Furthermore, the policy benefits all residents.
likewise	Formal	“Likewise, community involvement boosts well-being.”
nevertheless	Formal	“It was raining; nevertheless, we continued our hike.”
on top of that	Multi-word	“On top of that, the new system reduces costs.”
not only… but also	Complex	“Not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s also affordable.”
plus	Informal	“I studied hard, plus I attended extra workshops.”
for instance	Formal	“For instance, air pollution affects urban health.”
in addition	Formal	“In addition, new staff were hired.”
similarly	Formal	“Similarly, many cities adopted green energy policies.”
however	Formal	“However, this plan may cost more.”
in contrast	Formal	“In contrast, her plan saved time.”
as a result	Cause/Effect	“As a result, traffic was reduced.”
therefore	Cause/Effect	“Therefore, we must reconsider our budget.”
thus	Cause/Effect	“Thus, the results were invalid.”
meanwhile	Time	“Meanwhile, the team prepared the report.”
eventually	Time	“Eventually, we reached an agreement.”
to sum up	Conclusion	“To sum up, the plan is effective.”
lastly	Conclusion	“Lastly, I’d like to thank the team.”
although	Contrast	“Although it rained, we played outside.”
despite	Contrast	“Despite the delay, the task was completed.”
whereas	Advanced	“He prefers emails, whereas I like phone calls.”
due to	Reason	“Due to bad weather, the flight was cancelled.
since	Reason	“Since it’s late, let’s stop here.”
even though	Contrast	“Even though it was cold, she swam.”
although	Contrast	“Although tired, he kept working.”
instead of	Contrast	“Instead of tea, she had coffee.”
in conclusion	Conclusion	“In conclusion, the data supports our claim.”
to illustrate	Example	“To illustrate, Canada has diverse seasons.”
for example	Example	“For example, Vancouver has a mild climate.”
as well as	Addition	“She brought snacks as well as drinks.”
that being said	Contrast	“That being said, we must remain cautious.”
otherwise	Contrast	“Study hard, otherwise you may fail.”
thereby	Result	“He trained daily, thereby improving his stamina.”
notwithstanding	Contrast	“Notwithstanding her efforts, the deal failed.”
in other words	Clarification	“In other words, we need more time.”
to put it differently	Clarification	“To put it differently, we’re out of budget.”
as long as	Condition	“You can go out as long as you’re back by 9.”
provided that	Condition	“You may leave early provided that the work is done.”
by the time	Time	“By the time we arrived, it was too late.”
in the meantime	Time	“In the meantime, read Chapter 3.”
firstly	Sequence	“Firstly, gather all documents.”
secondly	Sequence	“Secondly, confirm the address.”

Useful Idioms:

Idiom	Meaning	Example
piece of cake	very easy	“The test was a piece of cake.”
under the weather	feeling unwell	“I felt under the weather yesterday.”
hit the nail on the head	exactly correct	“You hit the nail on the head.”
cost an arm and a leg	very expensive	“That phone cost an arm and a leg!”
time flies	time passes quickly	“Time flies during holidays.”
go the extra mile	make extra effort	“She always goes the extra mile.”
rule of thumb	general guideline	“A good rule of thumb is to save 10% monthly.”
burn the midnight oil	work late	“He burned the midnight oil to finish work.”
back to square one	start again	“We’re back to square one on the design.”
call it a day	stop working	“Let’s call it a day.”
bend over backwards	try very hard	“She bent over backwards to help him.”
hit the books	study hard	“I need to hit the books tonight.”
in hot water	in trouble	“He’s in hot water with his boss.”
keep an eye on	monitor	“Please keep an eye on the kids.”
on cloud nine	very happy	“He was on cloud nine after the results.”
spill the beans	reveal a secret	“He accidentally spilled the beans.”
once in a blue moon	very rarely	“She visits once in a blue moon.”
jump the gun	act too soon	“We jumped the gun with our announcement.”
let the cat out of the bag	reveal secret	“She let the cat out of the bag too early.”
break the ice	start a conversation	“Jokes help break the ice.”
a blessing in disguise	hidden good outcome	“Losing the job was a blessing in disguise.”
by the book	follow rules exactly	“He does everything by the book.”
cut corners	do something cheaply	“Don’t cut corners on safety.”
throw in the towel	give up	“He threw in the towel after failing twice.”
face the music	accept the consequences	“It’s time to face the music.”
once bitten, twice shy	cautious after bad experience	“I’m careful now—once bitten, twice shy.”
cold feet	hesitation	“She got cold feet before the wedding.”
have a lot on your plate	very busy	“I can’t help—I have a lot on my plate.”
in the same boat	same situation	“We’re all in the same boat.”
get the ball rolling	start something	“Let’s get the ball rolling on the project.”
easier said than done	hard to do	“Exercising daily is easier said than done.”
light at the end of the tunnel	hopeful sign	“There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
get out of hand	become uncontrollable	“The situation got out of hand.”
miss the boat	miss an opportunity	“He missed the boat on early registration.”
make ends meet	manage finances	“She struggles to make ends meet.”
take for granted	not appreciate	“Don’t take your job for granted.”
jump on the bandwagon	follow a trend	“Everyone’s jumping on the AI bandwagon.”
zip your lip	keep quiet	“Zip your lip during the interview.”
keep your chin up	stay positive	“Keep your chin up despite the failure.”

Synonyms:

Word	Synonyms
good	excellent, outstanding, superb, exceptional
bad	poor, terrible, awful, dreadful
help	assist, aid, support, facilitate
show	display, demonstrate, exhibit, reveal
start	begin, commence, initiate, launch
end	finish, conclude, terminate, wrap up
easy	simple, effortless, straightforward, clear
hard	difficult, challenging, tough, demanding
say	state, declare, mention, express
tell	inform, notify, communicate, explain
think	consider, reflect, ponder, evaluate
big	large, huge, enormous, massive
small	tiny, little, petite, miniature
happy	joyful, delighted, content, pleased
sad	unhappy, miserable, sorrowful, downcast
smart	intelligent, clever, bright, sharp
fast	quick, rapid, speedy, swift
slow	gradual, sluggish, leisurely, delayed
important	crucial, vital, significant, essential
nice	pleasant, kind, friendly, agreeable
angry	mad, furious, irate, upset
afraid	scared, frightened, terrified, nervous
rich	wealthy, affluent, prosperous, well-off
poor	needy, impoverished, underprivileged, broke
idea	concept, notion, thought, suggestion
job	occupation, profession, career, position
tired	exhausted, fatigued, worn out, sleepy
funny	amusing, humorous, hilarious, witty
wrong	incorrect, mistaken, inaccurate, false
right	correct, accurate, proper, appropriate
neat	tidy, organized, clean, orderly
dirty	messy, filthy, soiled, unclean
lazy	idle, inactive, sluggish, lethargic
strong	powerful, sturdy, tough, resilient
weak	fragile, frail, feeble, powerless
think	contemplate, reflect, speculate, believe
answer	reply, respond, retort, acknowledge
talk	speak, converse, chat, communicate
get	receive, obtain, acquire, gain

Vocabulary-Building Strategies

Below are the strategies that will help you in building a CELPIP vocabulary list to score high.

Read with Purpose:

Read Canadian news websites, blogs, and short stories. Try to highlight unfamiliar words, look them up, and try to use them in your own sentences.

Use Flashcards:

Practice by creating flashcards. Use flashcards that have definitions, synonyms, and example sentences. Tools like Anki or Quizlet can help with spaced repetition.

Practice Speaking with New Words:

One of the best way to include good vocabulary is by using it in daily conversation or speaking practice. It will help in memorizing long-term memory.

Watch and Listen:

Watch English shows, podcasts, and YouTube channels focused on Canadian culture or day-to-day life. Pay attention to how words are naturally used.

Make a Vocabulary Journal:

Try to write down all new words, meanings, and sample sentences in a notebook. Review this regularly to strengthen your word power.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many test-takers fall into these traps while working on their vocabulary:

Using big words incorrectly: It’s better to use simple, correct words than force complex ones that don’t fit the context.
Overusing the same words: Repetition of basic vocabulary like “good,” “bad,” or “thing” can reduce your speaking/writing score. Try to vary your word choice.
Neglecting collocations: Learning word combinations like “take responsibility” or “heavy rain” makes your language more natural.
Ignoring word forms: Be aware of different forms (e.g., “analyze,” “analysis,” and “analytical”) to use them accurately in writing and speaking.

Building vocabulary is not just about theory—it requires regular, structured practice. That’s where Gurully comes in. At Gurully, we offer an all-in-one CELPIP preparation platform that enables learners to enhance their vocabulary through full-length mock tests. Gurully’s real-time exam simulation & AI-based feedback to highlight weak areas and suggest improvements

Conclusion:

Acing CELPIP vocabulary is a necessity to score high in the real exam. From transition words to idioms synonyms, every word plays a crucial role and enhances your score. Consistent practice, real-world application, and feedback-driven improvement are key.

With Gurully’s CELPIP Practice Test platform, you get structured guidance, real-time practice, and AI-powered insights to build and refine your vocabulary effectively. Start using the right words in the right way—and watch your CELPIP score rise!!

FAQ

What is 34 out of 38 in CELPIP Listening?

Scoring 34 out of 38 in CELPIP Listening typically corresponds to a Level 10 or 11, which is considered an advanced level. This indicates a strong ability to understand both general and specific information in spoken English, often sufficient for immigration or professional purposes.

How to score 9 each in CELPIP?

To score Level 9 in all CELPIP modules, focus on improving vocabulary, structuring responses well, and practicing under timed conditions. In writing and speaking, use clear organization and varied language. For listening and reading, practice identifying the main ideas, details, and tone using mock tests and sample materials.

What are the connecting words for CELPIP?

How to improve CELPIP Speaking?

Improve CELPIP Speaking by practicing regularly with all 8 task types. Focus on fluency, pronunciation, and clear organization of ideas. Use linking phrases, avoid long pauses, and expand your vocabulary to enhance your communication. Recording yourself and reviewing responses can also help spot areas for improvement.

Is CELPIP harder than IELTS?

CELPIP and IELTS differ in format and content. CELPIP is fully computer-based, featuring Canadian accents and real-life topics, while IELTS offers both paper-based and computer-based versions and includes a live-speaking interview. Many find CELPIP easier due to its straightforward style, though it depends on individual preference.

Also Read:

CELPIP Vocabulary: Learn 150+ Words To Score High

Why CELPIP Vocabulary Matters?