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U.S. Citizenship Vocabulary

Jun 10, 2025

Overview

This video provides concise definitions of key terms and vocabulary commonly asked during the U.S. citizenship interview, specifically from the N-400 form's 37 yes/no questions.

Vocabulary Definitions

  • Claim: To say something is true.
  • Claim to be a U.S. citizen: To state you are a U.S. citizen.
  • Owe taxes: To owe the government money.
  • Vote: To elect new leaders.
  • Overdue: Past a deadline.
  • Communist party: A political party like those in China or North Korea.
  • Nonresident alien: A person who has not passed the green card test.
  • Advocate: To support.
  • Totalitarian party: Government controls everything, people have no power.
  • Overthrow: To remove a government from power.
  • Assassination: Action of killing someone.
  • Sabotage: To destroy something.
  • Kidnap: To take someone away illegally.
  • Incite: To encourage.
  • Hijack: To stop and steal a moving airplane.
  • Genocide: To kill a whole race.
  • Torture: To hurt someone physically.
  • National origin: Where a person is from.
  • Police unit: A group that protects the community.
  • Military unit: A group that works for the government.
  • Vigilante unit: A group acting like police but not official police.
  • Paramilitary unit: Like a military group but not official.
  • Guerrilla group: A group using weapons to attack the government.
  • Self-defense unit: A group that protects a place.
  • Prison/jail: A place where prisoners are kept.
  • Rebel group: A group fighting a government.
  • Prison camp: A place to keep enemy soldiers.
  • Detained: Held in custody by police.
  • Labor camp: A place to force people to work.
  • Threaten: To warn to hurt someone.
  • Detention facility: A place where people are forced to stay.
  • Weapons training: To learn how to use a gun.
  • Recruit/conscript: To add or require someone to join the army.
  • Weapon: An item like a knife or gun.
  • Paramilitary/military training: Learning to fight in combat.
  • Enlist: To sign up in the armed forces.
  • Hostilities: Fighting in a war.
  • Offense: A minor crime.
  • Cited: Given a ticket by police.
  • Crime: An action that breaks the law.
  • Commit a crime: To do something that breaks the law.
  • Suspended sentence: Delay of a sentence.
  • Confined: To be kept in a place.
  • Arrested: Handcuffed by police.
  • Probation: Regular reporting to an officer instead of jail time.
  • Charged: Police say you did something illegal.
  • Procure: To find someone for sex.
  • Manufacture: To make something.
  • Parole: Early release of a prisoner.
  • Prostitute: Someone who has sex for money.
  • Cultivate: To grow plants.
  • Dispense/distribute: To supply something.
  • Controlled substances: Can be bought with a prescription but restricted.
  • Produce: To make something.
  • Illegal drugs/narcotics: Drugs like heroin or cocaine.
  • Drug paraphernalia: Equipment to make illegal drugs.
  • Smuggle: To take things to a country illegally.
  • Gamble: To play a game for money.
  • Immigration benefit: Things like a visa, green card, or citizenship.
  • Misrepresentation: To lie or give wrong information.
  • Dependent: Someone who relies on another person.
  • False: Not true.
  • Pay alimony: To pay money to ex-spouse after divorce.
  • Misleading: Giving the wrong idea.
  • Public benefit: Welfare like food stamps.
  • Admission into the U.S.: The right to enter the U.S.
  • Fraudulent: To claim something not true.
  • Lie: To say something not true.
  • Recision: To take back a decision.
  • Selective Service: Service in Armed Forces under law.
  • Deportation proceedings: Process of removing a person.
  • Drafted: Being selected as a soldier.
  • Deport: To force someone to leave a country.
  • Avoid being drafted: Prevent being selected as a soldier.
  • Court martial: To go to military court.
  • Discharge: A soldier leaves the military.
  • U.S. Armed Forces: U.S. military (Navy, Air Force).
  • Desert: To abandon.
  • Alien: Not a U.S. citizen.
  • Order of nobility: Like king or queen.
  • Constitution: Supreme law of the land.
  • Hereditary title: A royal title (prince, princess).
  • Form of government: Republic.
  • Non-combatant Services: Services not involving combat.
  • Civilian direction: Orders from a non-military person.
  • Civilian: A person not in the military.
  • Oath of allegiance: Promise to be loyal to the U.S.
  • Work of national importance: Tasks important to a nation.
  • Bear arms: To own or use a gun.