Preparing for the TEF Canada or TCF Canada exams in 2025? One of the best ways to ensure success is to master the essential vocabulary needed to excel in the listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight the top vocabulary words you need to know for both the TEF Canada and TCF Canada exams. These words will give you a solid foundation for communication and ensure you're prepared for the challenges you may encounter on exam day.
1. Common Everyday Vocabulary
Both exams assess your ability to understand and use French in everyday situations. These basic vocabulary words will come in handy when you're navigating through the listening and reading sections:
Bonjour (Hello)
Merci (Thank you)
Comment ça va ? (How are you?)
S’il vous plaît (Please)
Excusez-moi (Excuse me)
Où est… ? (Where is…?)
These words cover essential conversational phrases and common actions you’re likely to encounter in daily life scenarios.
2. Vocabulary for Describing People and Relationships
The TEF and TCF exams may ask you to describe people, relationships, or talk about family dynamics. Here are some words related to describing people and relationships:
Famille (Family)
Ami(e) (Friend)
Mère/Père (Mother/Father)
Frère/Sœur (Brother/Sister)
Marié(e) (Married)
Divorcé(e) (Divorced)
Enfant (Child)
Parents (Parents)
Understanding these words is crucial for describing your personal life or discussing social situations in the writing and speaking sections.
3. Vocabulary for Everyday Activities
You will likely encounter vocabulary related to everyday activities, especially in listening and speaking tasks. Being familiar with these terms can help you quickly identify information during the exam:
Travailler (To work)
Étudier (To study)
Faire les courses (To go shopping)
Cuisiner (To cook)
Lire (To read)
Regarder (To watch)
Marcher (To walk)
Conduire (To drive)
Nager (To swim)
Prendre (To take)
These words are great for expressing routines, hobbies, and daily activities.
4. Vocabulary for Time and Dates
Being able to talk about time, dates, and schedules is essential for the TEF and TCF exams. Here are some important words related to time:
Aujourd’hui (Today)
Demain (Tomorrow)
Hier (Yesterday)
Semaine (Week)
Mois (Month)
An (Year)
Heure (Hour)
Minute (Minute)
Matin/Après-midi/Soirée (Morning/Afternoon/Evening)
À quelle heure ? (At what time?)
These terms are useful for expressing when events happen and for discussing your daily schedule.
5. Vocabulary for Shopping and Services
During the exam, you might encounter situations where you need to talk about buying goods, using services, or interacting in a commercial setting. Here are some helpful words:
Magasin (Store)
Prix (Price)
Soldes (Sales)
Acheter (To buy)
Vendre (To sell)
Paiement (Payment)
Carte de crédit (Credit card)
Cash (Cash)
Rabais (Discount)
Knowing these terms will help you handle situations related to purchasing items, handling payments, or discussing pricing.
6. Vocabulary for Travel and Transportation
If you're traveling in a French-speaking country, you'll need to know vocabulary related to transportation. These words will be especially useful in both the listening and speaking sections:
Aéroport (Airport)
Train (Train)
Autobus (Bus)
Avion (Plane)
Métro (Subway)
Taxi (Taxi)
Billet (Ticket)
Voyager (To travel)
Destination (Destination)
Gare (Station)
These words will help you discuss travel plans, routes, and transportation options in everyday situations.
7. Vocabulary for Health and Well-being
Health-related vocabulary can also appear in the TEF and TCF exams. Here are some important terms to know:
Médecin (Doctor)
Hôpital (Hospital)
Fièvre (Fever)
Douleur (Pain)
Blessure (Injury)
Soigner (To treat)
Rendez-vous (Appointment)
Médicament (Medicine)
Santé (Health)
These words will help you explain health concerns or describe situations related to physical well-being.
8. Vocabulary for Work and Education
For the TEF Canada or TCF Canada exams, you may also be asked to talk about your work or studies. Familiarity with these terms is essential:
Travail (Work)
Emploi (Job)
Bureau (Office)
Collègue (Colleague)
Étudiant(e) (Student)
Université (University)
Diplôme (Degree)
Stage (Internship)
Réunion (Meeting)
Formation (Training)
These words are useful when talking about your professional or academic life.
9. Useful Connectors and Phrases
In both the writing and speaking sections of the exam, being able to link your ideas logically is key. Here are some connectors and phrases that will help:
Cependant (However)
Parce que (Because)
Donc (So)
En plus (In addition)
D’abord (First)
Ensuite (Then)
Par exemple (For example)
Finalement (Finally)
These words help you structure your responses and make your communication smoother.
Conclusion
Mastering the right vocabulary is key to succeeding in the TEF Canada and TCF Canada exams. By learning these essential words, you'll feel more confident and prepared for any situation on exam day.
Ready to boost your preparation? Check out our TEF Canada Success Course for personalized lessons and expert guidance to help you ace the exam!
