CELPIP Vocabulary List: 100 Collocations by Topic
A free CELPIP vocabulary list: about 100 natural collocations grouped by the topics CELPIP Writing and Speaking use, each with its meaning, plus formal and spoken phrases.
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
CELPIP doesn't publish an official word list. What it tests is everyday English in real Canadian situations: an email to your landlord, advice to a friend, an opinion on a community plan. So the most useful vocabulary isn't rare words. It's collocations, the word pairs native speakers use together, like "land a job" or "a tight budget".
This list gives you about 100 of them, grouped by the topics CELPIP Writing and Speaking tasks use. Each topic links to a full page with more collocations, example sentences, a model answer and common mistakes.
How to use this list
- Pick your topics. Start with the topics closest to the tasks you're practising.
- Learn whole phrases. Learn "make a reservation", not just "reservation".
- Make it personal. Say each phrase in one sentence about your own life.
- Use it right away. Put two or three new phrases into your next practice answer.
Don't try to use every phrase you know in one answer. A few used naturally sound better than many forced in.
Work and Careers
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| land a job | successfully get a job, often after competition |
| apply for a position | submit a formal request to be considered for a job |
| a rewarding career | work that gives strong personal satisfaction |
| a demanding role | a job requiring a lot of time, effort or skill |
| fill in for (someone) | temporarily do someone else's job |
| take on (a task) | accept additional work or responsibility |
More work and careers collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for work and careers.
Study and Education
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| enrol in a program | officially register for a course of study |
| take a course | study a specific subject over a term |
| a rigorous curriculum | an academically demanding course of study |
| a supportive teacher | an instructor who helps and encourages students |
| fall behind (in class) | fail to keep pace with coursework |
| catch up on (readings) | finish work that has piled up |
More study and education collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for study and education.
Health and Wellness
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| book an appointment | schedule a visit, often with a doctor |
| catch a cold | become infected with a common cold |
| a balanced diet | a diet with a healthy variety of nutrients |
| a sedentary lifestyle | a lifestyle with little physical activity |
| come down with (an illness) | begin to suffer from an illness |
| shake off (a cold) | recover from a minor illness |
More health and wellness collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for health and wellness.
Housing and Community
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sign a lease | formally agree to rent a property |
| pay a deposit | give money upfront to secure a rental |
| a spacious layout | a floor plan with plenty of room |
| a cramped apartment | a small, crowded living space |
| move in | begin living in a new home |
| move out | leave a home permanently |
More housing and community collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for housing and community.
Money and Finance
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| save money | put money aside instead of spending it |
| spend money (on) | use money to buy something |
| a tight budget | very little money available to spend |
| disposable income | money left after rent, bills and other essentials |
| save up (for) | gradually collect money for a specific goal |
| put aside | keep money apart for later use |
More money and finance collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for money and finance.
Shopping and Consumerism
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| compare prices | check what different sellers charge |
| make a purchase | buy something |
| an impulse buy | an unplanned purchase |
| a hefty discount | a large price reduction |
| sell out (of) | have no stock left |
| mark down (a price) | reduce a price, usually for a sale |
More shopping and consumerism collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for shopping and consumerism.
Food and Dining
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| make a reservation | book a table at a restaurant in advance |
| place an order | tell a server or an app what food you want |
| a mouthwatering aroma | a smell that makes you want to eat |
| attentive service | service that responds quickly and carefully to guests |
| eat out | have a meal at a restaurant instead of at home |
| heat up | make cooked food hot again |
More food and dining collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for food and dining.
Travel and Transportation
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| book a flight | reserve a plane ticket in advance |
| catch a connection | get to a connecting flight on time |
| a scenic route | a road with attractive views |
| heavy traffic | a lot of slow-moving vehicles |
| check in | register at an airport or hotel |
| set off | begin a journey |
More travel and transportation collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for travel and transportation.
Technology and Digital Life
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| browse the internet | look through websites casually |
| stream a video | watch video content over the internet as it plays |
| cutting-edge technology | the newest, most advanced technology available |
| a user-friendly interface | a design that is easy to understand and use |
| log in (to) | enter your details to access an account |
| log out (of) | close an account session |
More technology and digital life collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for technology and digital life.
Environment and Nature
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| reduce carbon emissions | lower the amount of CO2 released |
| protect endangered species | stop at-risk animals and plants from dying out |
| renewable energy | power from sources that don't run out, like sun or wind |
| a protected area | land or water where nature is kept safe by rules |
| cut down on (waste) | reduce the amount of something |
| phase out (plastic) | gradually stop using something |
More environment and nature collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for environment and nature.
Weather and Seasons
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| brace for a storm | prepare for a storm you know is coming |
| check the forecast | look at the predicted weather |
| bitterly cold | extremely cold, harsh |
| scorching heat | extremely hot conditions |
| clear up | (weather) become fine after rain or cloud |
| cloud over | become covered with clouds |
More weather and seasons collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for weather and seasons.
Government and Law
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pass a law | formally approve a law so it takes effect |
| enforce a law | make sure people obey a law |
| a strict policy | a rule applied firmly, with little flexibility |
| a controversial law | a law that causes strong public disagreement |
| crack down on | take strict action against a problem |
| bring in (a law or policy) | introduce something new officially |
More government and law collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for government and law.
Relationships and Family
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| build a relationship | develop a connection with someone over time |
| maintain close ties | keep a strong connection despite distance |
| a close-knit family | a family that is emotionally close and supportive |
| unconditional love | love given without expecting anything in return |
| grow apart | slowly become less close as you change |
| look after | take care of someone |
More relationships and family collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for relationships and family.
Arts and Entertainment
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| catch a movie | go and see a film, used casually |
| release an album | make new recorded music available |
| a critically acclaimed film | a film that critics praise highly |
| a box-office hit | a film that sells a very large number of tickets |
| check out | go and see or try something |
| come out | (a film or album) be released |
More arts and entertainment collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for arts and entertainment.
Sports and Recreation
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| play a match | compete in a game, often soccer or tennis |
| score a goal | put the ball or puck into the net |
| fierce competition | very strong rivalry between competitors |
| gruelling training | extremely hard, exhausting training |
| warm up | prepare the body before exercise |
| work out | exercise, often at a gym |
More sports and recreation collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for sports and recreation.
Time and Productivity
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| manage your time | organize how you use your hours |
| set a deadline | decide on a due date for a task |
| a tight deadline | very little time to finish something |
| a hectic schedule | an extremely busy timetable |
| put off (a task) | delay or postpone something |
| keep up with (deadlines) | manage to do everything as it comes |
More time and productivity collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for time and productivity.
Problem-Solving and Opinions
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| identify a problem | recognize and clearly name an issue |
| weigh the options | carefully compare possible choices |
| a pressing issue | a problem that urgently needs attention |
| a viable option | a realistic, workable choice |
| figure out | understand or solve something by thinking |
| come up with | produce an idea, plan or solution |
More problem-solving and opinions collocations, with example sentences and model answers: CELPIP vocabulary for problem-solving and opinions.
Formal phrases for Writing
These work in any CELPIP Writing email or survey answer. The full page has about 70, grouped by purpose: formal phrases for CELPIP Writing.
| Phrase | Use |
|---|---|
| due to unforeseen circumstances | gives a reason for a change you could not predict, without private details |
| in light of | because of a new fact; also "in light of recent changes" or "in light of rising costs" |
| this is largely due to | names the main cause of something you have just described |
| as a precautionary measure | explains an action taken to prevent a problem |
| in the interest of | names the principle behind a request, as in "in the interest of fairness" |
| it is widely acknowledged that | introduces a view most people accept; also "it is generally accepted that" |
Natural phrases for Speaking
These help your Speaking answers sound natural and give you a moment to think. The full page groups about 50 by purpose: natural spoken phrases for CELPIP Speaking.
| Phrase | Use |
|---|---|
| I'd have to say | gives you a second before your answer |
| when it comes to | introduces the part of the topic you will talk about |
| I guess you could say | introduces a description you are not completely sure of |
| one thing I remember is | starts a memory in a personal experience answer |
| what really stands out is | moves to the most important detail |
| the way I see it | introduces your personal view |
Next step
Vocabulary sticks when you use it. Try a CELPIP Writing practice task or a CELPIP Speaking practice task and use a few phrases from this list. For the full set of topic pages, see the CELPIP Vocabulary Collocations Kit.
Frequently asked questions
Everyday vocabulary for real situations in Canada: work, housing, money, health, transit and community life. Collocations, the word pairs native speakers use together, matter more than rare or academic words.
No. CELPIP doesn't publish a word list. This list groups common collocations by the topics that come up in CELPIP Writing and Speaking tasks, so you can learn the words you're likely to need.
Learn each item as a whole phrase, not a single word. Pick the topics closest to your practice tasks, say each phrase in a sentence about your own life, and use two or three of them in your next practice answer.
No. Vocabulary is one of the four criteria for Writing and Speaking, and it rewards words that are precise and used naturally. A common collocation used correctly does more than a rare word used awkwardly.
Yes. The list and every topic page it links to are free to read, with no account needed.