N-400 vocabulary
Every sentence on the reading and writing tests is built from these words. There are only 64 to read and 75 to write — learn them and no sentence can surprise you.
How these are used
At the interview the officer shows you up to three sentences to read — you must read one correctly. Then you write up to three sentences from dictation — you must write one correctly. Both are built only from the lists below.
The two lists overlap on civics and history words, but they are not the same list — the writing list adds the months of the year and more place names. Study both.
Spelling and punctuation mistakes are accepted when you write, as long as the meaning is still clear.
Reading vocabulary · 64 words
People
2 words
Abraham Lincoln · George Washington
Civics
14 words
American flag · Bill of Rights · capital · citizen · city · Congress · country · Father of Our Country · government · President · right · Senators · state/states · White House
Places
3 words
America · United States · U.S.
Holidays
7 words
Presidents' Day · Memorial Day · Flag Day · Independence Day · Labor Day · Columbus Day · Thanksgiving
Question words
6 words
How · What · When · Where · Who · Why
Verbs
12 words
can · come · do/does · elects · have/has · is/are/was/be · lives/lived · meet · name · pay · vote · want
Other (function words)
9 words
a · for · here · in · of · on · the · to · we
Other (content words)
11 words
colors · dollar bill · first · largest · many · most · north · one · people · second · south
Writing vocabulary · 75 words
People
3 words
Adams · Lincoln · Washington
Civics
14 words
American Indians · capital · citizens · Civil War · Congress · Father of Our Country · flag · free · freedom of speech · President · right · Senators · state/states · White House
Places
9 words
Alaska · California · Canada · Delaware · Mexico · New York City · United States · Washington · Washington, D.C.
Months
7 words
February · May · June · July · September · October · November
Holidays
7 words
Presidents' Day · Memorial Day · Flag Day · Independence Day · Labor Day · Columbus Day · Thanksgiving
Verbs
10 words
can · come · elect · have/has · is/was/be · lives/lived · meets · pay · vote · want
Other (function words)
10 words
and · during · for · here · in · of · on · the · to · we
Other (content words)
15 words
blue · dollar bill · fifty/50 · first · largest · most · north · one · one hundred/100 · people · red · second · south · taxes · white
Exempt from the English test? Check the 65/20 rule →