The CELI 2 Vocabulary Guide: Which Words Do You Really Need?

Preparing for the CELI 2 exam can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to vocabulary. With thousands of Italian words out there, how do you know which ones are truly essential for the A2 level test? Don't worry – we've got you covered.

The good news is that you don't need to memorize the entire Italian dictionary. The CELI 2 exam focuses on practical, everyday vocabulary that you would actually use in real-life situations. Let's break down exactly what you need to know.

Essential Everyday Topics

These are the core themes you'll encounter in your CELI 2 exam:

Personal information and family (famiglia, lavoro, hobby)

Daily routines and activities (colazione, pranzo, cena)

Home and living environment (casa, appartamento, città)

Work and education (università, ufficio, scuola)

Shopping and services (negozio, banca, posta)

Health and well-being (ospedale, farmacia, medico)

Numbers and Time Expressions

Make sure you're comfortable with:

Numbers up to 1000

Days of the week and months

Time expressions (oggi, domani, ieri)

Frequency words (sempre, spesso, qualche volta)

Basic math terms for shopping situations

Action Verbs for A2 Level

Focus on these essential verb categories:

Movement verbs (andare, venire, partire)

Daily routine verbs (mangiare, dormire, lavorare)

Communication verbs (parlare, scrivere, telefonare)

Common irregular verbs in present tense

Basic past tense (passato prossimo) of common verbs

Descriptive Language

You should know basic adjectives for:

Physical descriptions (alto, basso, giovane)

Emotions (felice, triste, stanco)

Basic qualities (buono, cattivo, bello)

Quantities (molto, poco, abbastanza)

Study Timeline

8 weeks before exam:

Week 1-2: Personal and daily routine vocabulary

Week 3-4: Shopping and services vocabulary

Week 5-6: Work and education terms

Week 7-8: Review and practice in context

Tips for Vocabulary Learning

1. Create flashcards with real-life situations

2. Practice with Italian labels around your house

3. Use vocabulary in simple sentences daily

4. Focus on high-frequency words first

5. Learn words in context, not in isolation

Remember, the CELI 2 exam tests your ability to communicate in everyday situations, not your knowledge of complex or literary Italian. Focus on practical vocabulary that you can actually use in conversations and written tasks.

Ready to master your CELI 2 vocabulary? Visit prep2go.study for comprehensive study materials, practice tests, and personalized learning paths. With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll be well-prepared for success on exam day. Buono studio!

Source: CVCL - Centro per la Valutazione e le Certificazioni Linguistiche

The CELI 2 Vocabulary Guide: Which Words Do You Really Need?