In Punjabi NAATI CCL, legal dialogues feel like the steepest part of the test. The moment a segment mentions something like custody, a court order, an intervention order, or a breach, the pressure rises. It’s not that the English becomes complicated — it’s the formal tone and the seriousness of the situation that makes candidates tense up. Even fluent Punjabi speakers who have been living in Australia for years unexpectedly doubt themselves.
Don’t need to scare; the Punjabi CCL test doesn’t expect you to understand complex Australian laws. You’re not being tested on legal theory, legal interpretation, or court procedures. You’re simply being assessed on your ability to translate everyday Australian legal conversations into your Language Other Than English — in this case, Punjabi — accurately and naturally.
The legal scenarios used in the CCL exam are everyday community situations. A mother asking about child support. A couple thinking about separation. A tenant is confused about a notice to vacate. A driver wanting to know why their licence was suspended. These are common issues the community deals with, and they rely on a small, predictable set of legal terms.
Once you become familiar with this vocabulary, the fear disappears. The dialogues start to sound like normal conversations, just with a formal tone. You’ll find that most segments use the same 50–60 legal words, repeated across different situations.
This article gives you a practical English–Punjabi legal vocabulary list written in simple, community-friendly language. If you practise these terms a little each day, interpreting legal dialogues will feel steady and manageable — which is exactly what you need for a strong CCL score.
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Legal Vocabulary List for Punjabi NAATI CCL
| English Term | Punjabi Translation (Gurmukhi) | Simple Meaning (Australian English) |
|---|---|---|
| Accused | ਦੋਸ਼ੀ / ਮੁਲਜ਼ਿਮ | Person who has been charged with an offence |
| Acquittal | ਬਰੀ | Court decides the person isn’t guilty |
| Affidavit | ਹਲਫਨਾਮਾ | Written statement confirmed under oath |
| Appeal | ਅਪੀਲ | Request to a higher court to review a decision |
| Arrest | ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰੀ | Police taking someone into custody |
| Assault | ਹਮਲਾ / ਕੁੱਟਮਾਰ | Physical attack or threatening behaviour |
| Bail | ਜ਼ਮਾਨਤ | Permission to remain free until the court date |
| Barrister | ਵਕੀਲ (ਉੱਚ ਅਦਾਲਤ) | Lawyer who appears in higher courts |
| Breach of Contract | ਕਰਾਰ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ | Not following a signed agreement |
| Charge | ਦੋਸ਼ | Official accusation of an offence |
| Civil Case | ਸਿਵਲ ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ | Non-criminal dispute (money, property, family) |
| Compensation | ਮੁਆਵਜ਼ਾ | Payment for loss or damage |
| Confession | ਕਬੂਲੀਅਤ | Admitting guilt |
| Conviction | ਦੋਸ਼ ਸਾਬਤ | Court decision that the person is guilty |
| Court Order | ਅਦਾਲਤੀ ਹੁਕਮ | Official direction from the court |
| Custody (Child) | ਸੰਗਰਖਣ / ਹੇਰ-ਫੇਰ | Right to care for a child |
| Defendant | ਪ੍ਰਤੀਵਾਦੀ | Person defending themselves in court |
| Decree | ਅਦਾਲਤੀ ਫੈਸਲਾ | Court-issued ruling or order |
| Divorce | ਤਲਾਕ | Legal end of a marriage |
| Domestic Violence | ਘਰੇਲੂ ਹਿੰਸਾ | Abuse within family or relationship |
| Evidence | ਸਬੂਤ | Information used to prove something |
| Fine | ਜੁਰਮਾਨਾ | Money paid as a penalty |
| Fraud | ਧੋਖਾਧੜੀ | Deception for personal benefit |
| Guilty | ਦੋਸ਼ੀ | Legally responsible for the offence |
| Hearing | ਸੁਣਵਾਈ | Court session where matter is discussed |
| Imprisonment | ਕੈਦ | Time spent in jail |
| Intervention Order | ਦਖਲ ਹੁਕਮ (ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਹੁਕਮ) | Court order to protect someone from harm |
| Judge | ਜੱਜ | Court authority who makes decisions |
| Jurisdiction | ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਖੇਤਰ | Court’s authority over certain matters |
| Legal Aid | ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ | Free or low-cost legal help |
| Maintenance | ਭਰਨ-ਪੋਸ਼ਣ | Financial support for spouse or child |
| Magistrate | ਮੈਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਟ | Judicial officer in lower courts |
| Negligence | ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ | Failure to take reasonable care |
| Oath | ਹਲਫ | Promise to tell the truth |
| Offence | ਅਪਰਾਧ | Act that breaks the law |
| Parole | ਪੈਰੋਲ | Conditional early release from jail |
| Plaintiff | ਮੁੱਖ ਮੁਆਕਾਧਾਰ | Person who starts a civil case |
| Plea | ਬੇਨਤੀ / ਜਵਾਬ | Accused person’s response: guilty or not guilty |
| Police Statement | ਪੁਲਿਸ ਬਿਆਨ | Written account given to police |
| Probation | ਪ੍ਰੋਬੇਸ਼ਨ | Supervised freedom instead of jail time |
| Prosecution | ਇਲਜ਼ਾਮ ਪੱਖ | Legal case run by the State |
| Sentence | ਸਜ਼ਾ | Punishment after conviction |
| Separation | ਅਲੱਗ ਰਹਿਣਾ | Living apart before or instead of divorce |
| Summons | ਸਮਨ | Notice ordering someone to attend court |
| Suspect | ਸ਼ੱਕੀ | Person believed to be involved in an offence |
| Testimony | ਗਵਾਹੀ | Verbal evidence given in court |
| Tribunal | ਟ੍ਰਾਈਬ੍ਯੂਨਲ | Special legal body for certain disputes |
| Verdict | ਫੈਸਲਾ | Final decision in a trial |
| Witness | ਗਵਾਹ | Person who saw or heard the incident |
| Warrant | ਵਾਰੰਟ | Legal authority for arrest or search |
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Study Tips for Punjabi NAATI CCL
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Learn a few words at a time instead of trying to memorise the whole list in one go.
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Make small bilingual sentences to strengthen recall.
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Say the Punjabi terms out loud — it helps bridge both languages quickly.
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Listen to short Australian legal news clips to get used to the tone.
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During interpreting, keep your voice steady and neutral, even if the topic sounds emotional.
NAATI CCL Test Practice Just another Language Test
