The citizenship test is in English or French only. There is no Chinese version, and no one may translate for you. Most people who know the facts but still lose points do so because one English word in the question was unclear. This page lists the words and phrases that come up again and again in test-style questions, with a short, plain meaning for each. The facts come from the official study guide, Discover Canada.
Why these words matter
The test has 20 questions, and you need 15 correct answers to pass. A question can be easy and still be missed if you do not know what Lieutenant Governor or riding means. Small words count too. If you miss the word NOT, you will choose the opposite answer. If you mix up Premier and Prime Minister, you will lose a point you already knew.
You do not need advanced English. You need to recognise these key words quickly and calmly. Learn them as English words, not only through translation.
Words that tell you what the question wants
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| Which of the following…? | Choose one answer from the options you are given. |
| NOT | Written in capitals. Choose the option that is false or does not belong. |
| True or False | The question is a statement. Decide if it is correct. |
| responsible for | Whose job it is; who is in charge of something. |
| known as | Also called; another name for something. |
| represents | Acts for someone, or stands for an idea. |
| refers to | Means; is talking about. |
| established / founded | Started or created. |
| statutory | Set by a law (a statute). A statutory holiday is a public holiday set by law. |
| main / mainly | The most important one, or most of something. |
Government and Parliament
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| constitutional monarchy | A country with a King or Queen as head of state, who acts according to the Constitution. |
| parliamentary democracy | People elect representatives, who make laws and hold the government to account. |
| federal state | A country where power is shared between a national government and provincial governments. |
| federal / provincial / municipal | The levels of government: national, provincial (or territorial), and local (city or town). |
| the Sovereign / the Crown | The Sovereign is the King. The Crown is the monarchy and a symbol of the Canadian state. |
| head of state / head of government | Head of state: the Sovereign. Head of government: the Prime Minister. |
| Governor General | Represents the King in Canada as a whole. |
| Lieutenant Governor | Represents the King in a province. |
| Prime Minister | Head of the federal government, usually the leader of the party with the most seats. |
| Premier | Head of a provincial or territorial government. |
| Cabinet / minister | The ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. Each minister is in charge of an area of government. |
| Parliament | Canada’s national law-making body: the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. |
| House of Commons | The elected part of Parliament. Its members are MPs. |
| Senate / senator | The appointed part of Parliament. Senators can serve until age 75. |
| elected / appointed | Elected: chosen by voters. Appointed: chosen for the job by someone in authority. |
| bill | A proposed law that Parliament debates and votes on. |
| Royal Assent | The final approval of a bill by the Crown. After it, the bill becomes law. |
| Speech from the Throne | A speech at the opening of a new session of Parliament that sets out the government’s plans. |
| responsible government | The government must keep the support of the elected members to stay in power. |
| legislature | The elected law-making body of a province or territory. |
| by-law | A law made by a city or town council. |
Elections
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| electoral district (riding) | An area that elects one Member of Parliament. |
| Member of Parliament (MP) | A person elected to the House of Commons. |
| candidate | A person who runs in an election. |
| general election | An election held in every riding at the same time. |
| ballot / secret ballot | The paper you mark to vote. A secret ballot means no one can see how you voted. |
| voter information card | A card mailed to registered voters. It says when and where to vote. |
| advance poll | Voting on set days before election day. |
| Elections Canada | The independent, non-partisan agency that runs federal elections. |
| majority / minority government | The governing party holds at least half of the seats / fewer than half. |
| Official Opposition | The opposition party with the most seats. |
| confidence | The support of most members of the House of Commons. A government needs it to stay in power. |
Rights, responsibilities and the law
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms | The part of the Constitution, since 1982, that protects people’s rights and freedoms. |
| Constitution | Canada’s highest law. |
| entrench | To write something into the Constitution so that it is firmly protected. |
| rule of law | Everyone, including the government, must follow the law. |
| fundamental freedoms | Basic freedoms, such as freedom of religion, of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association. |
| mobility rights | The right to live and work anywhere in Canada, and to enter and leave the country. |
| Magna Carta | The “Great Charter” signed in England in 1215, the start of Canada’s tradition of freedom under law. |
| habeas corpus | The right to challenge unlawful detention by the state. |
| presumption of innocence | A person accused of a crime is treated as innocent until proven guilty. |
| due process | The government must respect all of a person’s legal rights. |
| responsibility / obligation | Something you must or should do, such as obeying the law. |
| jury duty | Serving on a jury when you are called. It is a legal obligation. |
| volunteer | To help others without being paid. |
| legal aid | Legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer. |
| Supreme Court of Canada | The highest court in Canada. |
| RCMP | The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada’s national police force. |
| official languages / bilingual | English and French / using two languages. |
| multiculturalism | Respect for the many cultures that are part of Canadian identity. |
| Oath of Citizenship / allegiance | The promise new citizens make at the ceremony / loyalty. |
| swear / affirm | Two ways to make the same solemn promise. To affirm is to promise without swearing. |
History
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| Aboriginal / Indigenous peoples | The first peoples of Canada: First Nations, Inuit and Métis. |
| First Nations / Inuit / Métis | The three groups of Aboriginal peoples. The Métis have mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry. |
| treaty | A formal agreement, for example between the Crown and First Nations. |
| colony | A territory ruled by another country, such as New France. |
| fur trade | Buying and selling animal furs, especially beaver. It was key to Canada’s early economy. |
| United Empire Loyalists | People loyal to the British Crown who came to Canada after the American Revolution. |
| Upper Canada / Lower Canada | Two colonies created in 1791. Upper Canada became Ontario; Lower Canada became Quebec. |
| Confederation | The union of provinces in 1867 that created Canada. |
| Dominion of Canada | Canada’s official name at Confederation. |
| Fathers of Confederation | The leaders who worked together to create Canada. |
| head tax | A fee charged only to Chinese immigrants. The Government of Canada apologized in 2006. |
| residential schools | Schools that took many Aboriginal children away from their families to assimilate them. Canada apologized in 2008. |
| Quiet Revolution | A time of rapid change in Quebec in the 1960s. |
| referendum | A vote in which all voters answer one question, such as Quebec’s votes in 1980 and 1995. |
| peacekeeping | Helping to keep peace in places of conflict, often with the United Nations. |
Symbols and holidays
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| Coat of Arms / motto | Canada’s official emblem / its motto, A mari usque ad mare (“from sea to sea”). |
| national anthem / royal anthem | O Canada / God Save the King. |
| Remembrance Day / poppy | November 11, when Canadians honour those who served and died in war / the red flower worn to remember them. |
| Order of Canada | An honour for outstanding achievement or service to Canada. |
| Victoria Cross | The highest award for bravery. |
Geography and the economy
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|
| province / territory | Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Territories get their powers from Parliament. |
| capital | The city where a government sits. Ottawa is the national capital. |
| Canadian Shield | A very old, rocky region that covers a large part of Canada, rich in forests, minerals and water. |
| Prairies | The flat farming region of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. |
| natural resources | Things from nature that people use or sell, such as forests, minerals, oil and fish. |
| exports / trading partner | Goods sold to other countries / a country you trade with. The United States is Canada’s largest. |
| service industries | Jobs that provide services, such as health care, transportation and retail. Most Canadians work in them. |
| manufacturing | Making products in factories, such as cars and aircraft parts. |
How to learn these words
- Use flashcards every day. Ten minutes a day works better than two hours once a week. Our flashcards show a term on one side and the meaning on the other.
- Read the English question first. When you practise, read the question and options in English before you look at any translation. This is what you will do on test day.
- Look for the key word. Before you answer, find the word that decides the answer: NOT, first, main, responsible for, elected or appointed.
- Learn words in pairs. Many mistakes come from two similar words: head of state and head of government, Governor General and Lieutenant Governor, Prime Minister and Premier, Senate and House of Commons.
- Say the words out loud. Saying a word helps you remember it, and you may need to speak about these topics if you are ever invited to a hearing.
If English is not your first language, our FAQ for applicants whose first language isn’t English answers common questions about the test language. To learn the exact words of the oath that new citizens take, read the Oath of Citizenship explained.
Ready to see these words in real context? Try Practice Test 1 and notice how often they appear.