How to remember meaning of a word

How do you remember a word meaning?

Tips to remember words

  • Keep an organised vocabulary notebook.
  • Look at the words again after 24 hours, after one week and after one month.
  • Read, read, read.
  • Use the new words.
  • Do word puzzles and games like crosswords, anagrams and wordsearches.
  • Make word cards and take them with you.
  • Learn words with a friend.

How can I memorize words quickly?

  1. Use Memory Techniques.
  2. Create a learning environment.
  3. Put the words in context.
  4. Learn from real-life situations.
  5. Take it to the next level.
  6. Find the tools that work for you.
  7. Make it interactive.
  8. Focus on useful words.

How can I find the meaning of English words?

By learning about etymology, you can find new ways to define unknown words without using a dictionary.

  1. Start by looking at each part of the word in question.
  2. Prefixes are the first part of the word.
  3. “Anti” means “against”.
  4. “Extra” is a prefix that means “beyond”.

Can a woman call a man gorgeous?

What a gorgeous man! Or “gorgeous” is only used for women and thing. Yes, you certainly can. Words such as beautiful, pretty, good-looking and handsome can be seen a reasonably objective assessments of someone’s appearance.

How can a man be pretty?

20 Ways to Be a More Attractive Man, According to Science

  1. Grow a beard. Getty Images.
  2. Wear sunglasses. Getty Images.
  3. Hold your chin up, literally.
  4. Look important.
  5. Have an entourage.
  6. Be an actual nice guy.
  7. Make her laugh.
  8. Smile…slowly.

What a woman wants in a man?

Women desire a man who is honorable, fair, and ethical. In terms of relationships, having integrity can help strengthen the bond a man has with a woman, as his moral principles will guide his behavior and help him to be the best partner that he can be.

Do guys like messy hair?

Guys really like the messy ponytail look. You know, when a girl puts her hair in a ponytail, but then over time some of the hair falls out of place.

Improving your vocabulary is one of the best things you can do to keep moving forward in a language, but do you ever have a rough time remembering hard vocabulary words in English? When you’re first learning basic words, it’s easy to remember them because they’re words that you hear and use all the time. It’s often more difficult to remember advanced English words because we don’t hear them as often, and we don’t have as many occasions to use them once we’ve learned them.

Basic words also have more simple, straightforward translations. For example, happy is defined as “feeling or showing pleasure.” However, jubilant, a more advanced word, has a more specific definition: “feeling or showing great happiness because of a success.” The simple word, happy, communicates the general feeling. Jubilant, on the other hand, also tells us the degree of happiness (great happiness), and the reason for the happiness (because of a success). It’s a wonderful word, but it’s harder to remember.

Don’t be discouraged if you’re having a hard time memorizing difficult words. I’m going to give you 10 of my favorite ideas for remembering hard vocabulary words in English.

1. Keep a vocabulary notebook

For me, keeping a vocabulary notebook is essential when I’m studying a foreign language. Here’s a glimpse of my Spanish journal. I like to be spontaneous in my journal and use colors and drawings to help me remember the words. Some people prefer to draw grids and follow a more organized system. There is no “best” way to keep an English vocabulary notebook, but keeping one is important.

First of all, experts agree that the act of writing something by hand helps you remember it more than if you’d typed it.

It’s also useful and rewarding to have a physical representation of all the new vocabulary you have learned in English. Can you imagine how many pages will be filled with new words after just one month? When you flip back through your journal, you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you see pages and pages filled with words that you have learned so far. This will motivate you to continue.

Lastly, having all your new vocabulary words in one place makes it easy to review past words. When you’re sitting on the bus or before going to sleep at night, you can flip through your notebook and quickly review your new English words.

2. Search for the word in context

When you’re learning an advanced English vocabulary word, it’s often beneficial to search for the new word in context in addition to simply learning its definition. This is not as important with basic vocabulary because words like “green” and “television” are fairly straightforward. However, with difficult words, it can help you make sure that you know how to use the word correctly. The act of searching for the word in context will help you remember it, too. After all, the more you read and say a word, the more you will remember it.

My favorite place to search for vocabulary words in context is the BBC news site. Type your English vocabulary word into the search bar, and read through the results to get a better understanding of the word. I never read the full article. I only read the portion of the article related to the word I’m researching. If a sentence is particularly helpful to me, I will write it down in my notebook, especially if I suspect a group of words may be a collocation, or if I notice a preposition that seems to be used with the word on a regular basis. But oftentimes, I simply read and allow myself to gain an understanding of the word without writing anything down. It’s important to remember not to burn yourself out. :o)

Let’s look at a couple of examples of searching for vocabulary words in context with some of our recent Twitter words of the day:

aloof: cool, distant, and not friendly or interested in other people#LearnEnglish #इंग्रजी #Inglese #English #អង់គ្លេស #Ingles #vocabulary pic.twitter.com/mMGViC1hkj

— Next Step English (@NextStepEnglish) September 6, 2017

succor: (literary) help that you give to someone who is suffering or having problems#Collocations: give succor, bring succor#英语 #אנגלית pic.twitter.com/2gdez8TgyF

— Next Step English (@NextStepEnglish) September 1, 2017

droop: to bend, hang, or move downwards, especially because of being weak or tired#LearnEnglish #anglais #انگریزی #engelsk #영어 #vocabulary pic.twitter.com/VuuOGY473z

— Next Step English (@NextStepEnglish) September 5, 2017

3. Channel your inner author

At university, I took many creative writing classes. One common exercise was for the professor to give the students a list of unrelated words and then require the students to write a poem or short story using all of the words given.

This is a great exercise to help you remember new vocabulary words, too! While you write, the new English words will be swirling around in your mind as you try to think of how to use them. And once you’ve finished, the images surrounding the words in your poem or story will also help you remember them.

To get you started, why don’t you try writing a poem or short story using these English vocabulary words? To see illustrated vocabulary cards with definitions, visit the article where we introduce these words.

• wooded

• concoction

• risqué

• hoarse

• runt

4. Dive into word roots and origins

The more English words you learn, the more you will start to recognize certain word roots that appear over and over again, usually as prefixes or suffixes. Learning the roots that make up a word will help you remember hard vocabulary words and help you guess the meanings of new words with the same roots.

Here are just a few word roots that are common in English:

Similarly, learning a word’s path into English can also help you remember it. Many times, a word’s origin is simply “from Old English word X, derived from German word Y, related to Dutch word Z.” However, it’s not uncommon for words to have stories behind them, and knowing these stories will not only provide you with interesting trivia for entertaining your friends, but it will help you remember the word, as well.

Here are examples of a few interesting word origins in English. I’ve looked up all of these word origins in my favorite learners’ dictionary, the Oxford Learners’ Dictionaries:

queen = the female ruler of an independent state that has a royal family

  origin = of Germanic origin, relating to quean, the word for a badly behaved woman or girl

clue = a fact or a piece of evidence that helps you discover the answer to a problem

  origin = from a variant of the Late Middle English word clew, meaning a ball of thread, which is what Theseus used to escape from the labyrinth in Greek mythology

slogan = a word or phrase that is easy to remember, used for example by a political party or in advertising to attract people’s attention or to suggest an idea quickly

  origin = from the Scottish Gaelic word sluagh-ghairm (battle cry), from sluagh (army) + gairm (shout)

nightmare = a dream that is very frightening or unpleasant

  origin = from Middle English, denoting an evil female spirit who was thought to lie upon and suffocate sleepers, from night + the Old English word mære (incubus)

Associating hard vocabulary words with their origin stories can help you remember them long-term. Plus, it will make you an interesting conversationalist, and that’s always a good thing!

Related: Why is English So Crazy?! A Brief History of the English Language

5. Surround yourself with the word

If you’re trying to memorize new vocabulary, it will really help you to immerse yourself in that new vocabulary. While the most important place to write down the new vocabulary is in your trusty vocabulary notebook, also make the words visible around you.

I recommend getting a whiteboard marker and writing the English words you’re trying to learn on your bedroom window or on your bathroom mirror. Perhaps even make a little drawing beside each word to help you remember its meaning. As you get dressed or brush your teeth, run through the words in your head and make sentences with them mentally.

You can tape small vocabulary cards to your refrigerator, or paint new vocabulary words onto rocks that you find outside, keeping a growing basket of rocks that you can play with. If you’re trying to learn words for household items, you can write their English names on masking tape and label the items in your home. There are many ways to make English words visible around you, so be creative!

6. Compete with a friend

Nothing motivates me like a good, old-fashioned competition. Talk to a friend who is also learning English, and come up with weekly vocabulary lists. When you see that friend, quiz each other at unexpected moments.

To make it even more fun, place goofy little bets on the words. If you forget the word, you have to do something embarrassing, like singing a line from a pop song really loudly, or making a funny face at the next person you see, or speaking for the next 60 seconds in Darth Vader’s voice.

If one of you remembers the word, get into the habit of performing some physical action to affirm the accomplishment, like a high five or a fist bump.

7. Play around on Quizlet

One of my favorite ways to practice vocabulary online is the free flashcard website, Quizlet. You have to sign up for a free account, and it’s more than worth the effort. You’ll get to make your own flashcards (with or without images), test yourself in a variety of ways, and play addictive review games to reinforce what you’ve learned. Quizlet even has a native English voice that will read your words back to you!

This is a great way to keep an online library of your new words or reinforce vocabulary before an exam. And if you have friends trying to learn the same words, you can share your flashcards with them. This is an all-around fabulous tool!

8. Take to social media

Social media is a great place to practice vocabulary! You may not want to inundate your personal friends and family with posts about English words, so I recommend that you set up a second account dedicated solely to practicing English.

Personally, my favorite social media platform for practicing a language is Twitter. Use the hashtag #twinglish to tweet a sentence using the vocabulary word you’re trying to remember. Then, go comment on other people’s sentences under the same hashtag. With any luck, they will reciprocate by responding to your tweet, reinforcing the vocabulary and helping you to make friends with other English language learners from around the globe.

9. Activate both sides of your brain

When trying to remember new vocabulary, people often focus on left-brain activities, like flashcards for memorization. Flashcards are wonderful! However, don’t neglect the right side of your brain when you’re trying to learn hard vocabulary words. Listen to music while you study, create illustrations of the words, write a short movie script using the words, or make a Venn Diagram comparing two things that will allow you to use some of your new English words.

10. Repeat, repeat, repeat

The more exposure you have to a word, the more you will remember it. This is true of basic vocabulary words and hard vocabulary words alike. The more you read, write, hear, and say a word, the more embedded it will be in your mind.

Some of the techniques I’ve recommended have repetition built in, like searching for the words in context on the BBC News site or using Quizlet. However, no matter which techniques appeal to you, make sure that you expose yourself to the words multiple times.

Don’t be intimidated by hard vocabulary words in English! With these techniques, you can remember them every time!

Do you keep forgetting the English words you learn?

Are you tried of looking up the same words in the dictionary repeatedly?

If so, you’ve come to the right place.

This guide will teach you the top 3 techniques to remember vocabulary better.

Here are the techniques:

  1. Process words deeply
  2. Associate words with mental images
  3. Review words at spaced intervals

Let’s dive into each method in detail.

Technique #1: Process Words Deeply

This method is based on the Levels of Processing effect, which states that words that are “processed” more deeply are remembered better.

Most people don’t make an effort to remember words. When looking up a word in the dictionary, they simply read the definition once and move on. This is “shallow” processing and it’s a bad way to remember anything.

So how you can learn a word more deeply?

Well, the first thing you can do is read all the definitions (if it has multiple meanings), as well as the usage examples.

But this is still shallow and doesn’t involve much mental effort.

You can go even deeper.

For example, think about the general meaning of the word. Ask yourself whether the meaning is good, bad, or neutral.

Suppose you’re learning the word effort (a vigorous or determined attempt, physical or mental exertion), how would you categorize this word?

For me, the general meaning of effort gives me a picture of someone trying hard to achieve something, so I categorize it as good.

But for someone else, the word might make them think about someone trying to finish a lot of boring tasks, so they will categorize it as bad.

It doesn’t really matter whether you think a word is good, bad, or neutral. What matters is that this process forces you to think about the word meaning more deeply.

Categorizing words is just one way to memorize words deeply. Another thing you can do is try to think of the word’s synonyms and antonyms (words with similar and opposite meanings).

Or you may create a mental image or a story that signifies the word meaning. For example, if you want to memorize the word forfeit (to lose something as a penalty for wrongdoing), perhaps you can imagine yourself losing a lot of money because you’ve done something against the laws.

The key is to perform some kind of mental exercise that forces you think about the word meaning on a deeper level.

My Thoughts on The Technique

This technique is probably the easiest to do since it can be performed quickly without using anything special like vocabulary software.

The drawback is that it’s probably the least effective method of the three.

The nature of new memories is that they fade quickly if you don’t make an effort to recall them afterwards.

So, even if you try to memorize words deeply, there’s still a chance of forgetting.

That being said, if you want to remember vocabulary a little better and don’t want to use methods that are too complicated or hard to do, this technique is pretty good.

Technique #2: Associate Words with Mental Images

Aha!

Ever heard of World Memory Championships?

These are competitions in which participants compete by memorizing as much information as possible within a given period of time.

In such events, it’s not difficult to find someone who can memorize the order of 50 random cards within three minutes.

These people are not super humans; they’re able to do what they do through practice and a number of memorization techniques.

Let’s look at one of those techniques: the Association technique.

How to Do The Technique

First, you need to know the pronunciation of the word you’re trying to memorize. Sometimes, you can guess it based on the spelling. If you’re not sure, listen to the pronunciation on a dictionary (or on YouTube).

After that, say or listen to the word over and over. Does it sound like another word (or words) you know? Does it sound like the name of a person? An animal?

The word(s) you think of can be English words or words in your native language. But they should refer to things you can visualize: objects, animals, people, or places.

Let’s say I want to memorize these words:

  • Adroit: clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
  • Effort: a vigorous or determined attempt, physical or mental exertion.
  • Forfeit: lose something as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Here’s how each of them sound like to me:

  • Adroit sounds like android (a human-like robot).
  • Effort sounds like F (letter) and Ford (A car manufacturer)
  • Forfeit sounds like four (number) and Fed (Fed can refer to either FedEx delivery or Roger Federer).

Once you’ve come up with the substitute word(s), visualize those words in your mind and try to “associate” (link) that mental image to the word meaning.

How do you link the image of an android (our substitute word for adroit) to the meaning “clever or skillful in using the hands or mind?”

Maybe you can imagine the android doing something that requires complex hand movements. Perhaps visualize it playing a guitar solo on stage.

Rock never dies!

Put some effort into it. Add some details to that mental image. Perhaps imagine the android using a few advanced guitar techniques such as speed picking, sweeping, and tapping.

And that’s it. The next time you see or hear the word adroit, it will remind you of an android, then you’ll think about that silly mental image, and you’ll remember the word meaning!

Let’s do one more example: forfeit (sounds like four and Fed).

How do you associate four and Fed with the meaning “lose something as a penalty for wrongdoing?”

Perhaps we can imagine that Roger Federer has three siblings (so there are “four Feds”). They love each others very much. Then one day during a tennis match Roger Federer misses the ball completely. He gets so mad at himself for making such a stupid mistake and throws his racket on the ground.

Because of this inappropriate action, the tennis association decides to put his three siblings in prison. So Roger Federer loses the three people he loves because of his wrongdoing.

Now, put a real effort into visualizing this story.

Concentrate….really…really…hard.

It won’t work if you just do it casually.

And you’re done! The next time you encounter the word forfeit, you’ll think of four Feds, you’ll think of this silly story, and you’ll remember the meaning.

My Thoughts on The Technique

With some practice, this technique can be powerful.

If the association you create is strong enough, it’s possible to remember a word forever, without any repetition.

It works because of various reasons:

  • We tend to remember images and stories better than words and meanings.
  • It makes you pay attention to the pronunciation and meaning.
  • Information is better remembered if it’s created by yourself (the generation effect).

A minor issue I have with this technique is that you have to know the pronunciation.

Although there are plenty of online dictionaries with audio pronunciations, it can be annoying in some situations like when you’re in a library or classroom and don’t have earbuds.

And as you can see, it take some effort, time, and creativity to come up with substitute words and mental images. (But this will gets easier with practice.)

Overall, this is a very effective technique. It’s fun to do and doesn’t require any special tool. (Personally, I like this one the best.)

By the way, do you want to improve your spoken English?
If so, enter your email address to join my English speaking course:

Technique #3: Review Words at Spaced Intervals

In 1885, a German psychologist did a number of experiments on memory.

The experiments involved memorizing lists of nonsense syllables such as DAX, BOK, and YAT.

In one experiment, he memorize two lists in two different ways:

  • He repeated the first list 36 times in a single day.
  • He repeated the second list 12 times a day for three days (so the total number of repetitions is 12 X 3 = 36, the same as the first list).

Later he recalled the two lists and found that recall of the second list was substantially better.

What does this mean?

It means you remember better when repetitions are “spaced out.”

So instead of memorizing a particular word many times within the same day, you may do it over a span of days or weeks like this:

  • First repetition: 1 day
  • Second repetition: 7 days
  • Third repetition: 16 days
  • Fourth repetition: 35 days

This spaced repetition strategy allows you to remember better, with fewer repetitions.

The reason why this works is a highly debated discussion among researchers. Some theorized that when you recall information this way, it signals your brain that the information is important and should be stored long term.

Practical Application

How do you apply spaced repetition to your vocabulary learning?

It’s relatively simple. Many vocabulary/memory apps have spaced repetition integrated into their software, so you don’t have to figure out when to repeat certain words, the app will take care of that for you.

A popular spaced repetition app is Anki. When you want to memorize a word, you create a flashcard (it’s a card with the target word on one side and the meaning on the other).

After you’ve entered a good number of words into Anki, you can start reviewing them. If you get a word wrong, the app will show the same word again soon. If you get a word right, you won’t see the word for a while.

You can watch this video to see how it works:

My Thoughts on The Technique

Generally speaking, the more complex a memory technique, the more costly it is to use.

Although this spaced repetition technique is effective, it comes with a price.

The price is that you have to keep adding new words into the app. And you have to spend time reviewing them. This can be a hassle for some people (myself included).

However, if you want to remember every word without fail and don’t mind a little bit of complexity, this is the technique for you.

If you’re not sure, you can give it a try. If it turns out to be too much for you, you can resort to the first two techniques.

Final Thoughts: How to Remember English Vocabulary

You have learned three best methods for remembering words in English (or any other language).

Now is the time for you to pick a method (or methods) to use.

All these methods have been scientifically proven and tested. You can use one, two, or even all three depending on how sophisticated you want your approach to be:

  • A more sophisticated approach is more effective but less convenient and more time consuming.
  • A simpler approach is less effective but easy to do (an extreme example is not trying to remember vocabulary at all)

Whatever approach you come up with, please be reminded that English vocabulary is only one aspect of your English competency. Don’t be obsessed with it too much and forget to improve other things like grammar, comprehension, speaking and writing skills.

So if you want to focus on the big picture as well, check out my guide on how to learn English.


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Maybe you are in the middle of an exam and suddenly come across a word that makes absolutely no sense. This is usually a cue for most people to panic if a dictionary is not handy. But don’t worry! There are several steps you can take to help you figure out the meaning of a word without a dictionary.

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    Read the entire sentence. It can be very frustrating to have your reading interrupted by an unknown word. If you are in the middle of an exam or an assignment for school or work, it can also be very stressful. If you can’t reach for a dictionary, take other steps to figure out what the word means.

    • Your first step is to go back and re-read the entire sentence. You probably lost track of what your were reading when you stumbled upon the new word.
    • Think about the content of the sentence. Do you understand the sentence without using the new word? Or is it incomprehensible?
    • Try underlining the unknown word. This will help you separate it from the rest of the sentence.
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    Identify words you do understand. You can often use other words in the sentence to help you define the unknown word. Think about what else is happening in the sentence. Hopefully, this will help you figure out whether the unknown word is a noun, verb, or adjective.

    • For example, maybe you are looking at a sentence that says, «It was a very sultry day in the middle of the summer.» You probably understand each word except for «sultry».
    • Think about what you know about the summer. It is likely that «sultry» has something to do with weather.
    • Maybe your biology exam has this sentence, «Many members of the canine family are predators, looking for other animals to eat.» You can surmise that «predators» prey on other animals.

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    Look for illustrative examples. Once you have examined the other words in that sentence, you can move on. Start looking at the sentences that follow the unknown word. An author will often give descriptions that can help you figure out the meaning of an unknown word.[1]

    • For example, take the sentence, «It was a very sultry day in the middle of summer.» It could be followed by the sentence, «The heat and humidity made it appealing to sit in the shade and drink lemonade.»
    • You can now more confidently define «sultry». The descriptive words such as «heat» and «humidity» are further clues that it is a description of the weather.
    • Sometimes, the descriptive examples will be right in the original sentence. For example, it could say, «Sultry days are so damp and hot.»
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    Think logically. Sometimes, the context clues will not be as clear. You will have to use logic to figure out the word. You can also use experience, or prior knowledge, of the topic.[2]

    • For example, maybe a sentence says, «In the antebellum South, many plantation owners kept slaves.» It is likely that «antebellum» is the unknown word.
    • The sentence itself does not offer many clues. However, the following sentences are, «But after the Civil War, slavery was outlawed. This was a major change between the two periods.»
    • Think about what you know now. You are reading information about two different time periods, right? Before the Civil War and after the Civil War.
    • You can now make a pretty logical assumption about the word «antebellum». Based on your experience and reading the following sentences, you know it probably means «before the war».
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    Use other context clues. Sometimes an author will offer other types of clues. Look for restatement. This is where the meaning of the word is restated in other words.

    • Here is an example of «restatement»: «The pig squealed in pain. The high-pitched cry was very loud.»
    • You can also look for «appositives». This is where an author highlights a specific word by placing a further description between two commas.
    • This is an example of the use of an appositive: «The Taj Mahal, which is a massive white marble mausoleum, is one of the most famous landmarks in India.
    • You may not know the words «Taj Mahal», but the use of appositives makes it clear that it is a landmark.
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    Look for a prefix. Etymology is the study of the meanings of words. It also looks at the origins of words, and how they have changed over time. By learning about etymology, you can find new ways to define unknown words without using a dictionary.

    • Start by looking at each part of the word in question. It is very helpful to look to see if the word has a common prefix.
    • Prefixes are the first part of the word. For example, a common prefix is «anti».
    • «Anti» means «against». Knowing this should help you figure out the meanings of words such as «antibiotic» or «antithesis».
    • «Extra» is a prefix that means «beyond». Use this to figure out words such as «extraterrestrial» or «extracurricular».
    • Other common prefixes are «hyper», «intro», «macro» and «micro». You can also look for prefixes such as «multi», «neo» and «omni».
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    Pay attention to the suffix. The suffix are the letters at the end of the word. There are several suffixes in the English language that are common. They can help you figure out what kind of word you are looking at.

    • Some suffixes indicate a noun. For example, «ee» at the end of the word almost always indicates a noun. Some examples are «trainee» and «employee».
    • «-ity» is also a common suffix for a noun. Examples include «electricity» and «velocity».
    • Other suffixes indicate verbs. For example, «-ate». This is used in words such as «create» and «deviate».
    • «-ize» is another verb suffix. Think about the words «exercise» and «prioritize».
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    Identify root words. A root word is the core word, without a prefix or suffix. Most words in the English language come from either a Latin or Greek root word.[3]

    • By learning common root words, you can begin to identify new words more easily. You will also be able to recognize words that have had a prefix or suffix added.
    • An example of a root word is «love». You can add many things to the word: «-ly» to make «lovely».
    • «Bio» is a Greek root word. It means «life, or living matter». Think about how we have adapted this root word to become «biology», «biography», or «biodegradable».
    • The root word mater- or matri- comes from the Latin word mater, meaning mother. By understanding this root, you can better understand the definitions of words like matron, maternity, matricide, matrimony, and matriarchal.
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    Keep notes. If you can increase the size of your vocabulary, you will find yourself less likely to encounter unknown words. There are several steps you can take to effectively build your vocabulary. For example, you can start by writing notes.

    • Every time you encounter an unfamiliar word, write it down. Then later, when you have access to a dictionary, you can look it up for a precise definition.
    • Keep a small pack of sticky notes with you while you read. You can write the unfamiliar word on a note and just stick it on the page to return to later.
    • Start carrying a small notebook. You can use it to keep track of words that you don’t know and new words that you have learned.
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    Utilize multiple resources. There are a lot of tools that you can use to help you build your vocabulary. The most obvious is a dictionary. Purchase a hard copy, or book mark an online dictionary that you find useful.

    • A thesaurus can also be very helpful. It will give you synonyms for all of the new words you are learning.
    • Try a word of the day calendar. These handle desk tools will give you a new word to learn each day. They are available online and at bookstores.
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    Read a lot. Reading is one of the best ways to increase the size of your vocabulary. Make it a point to read each day. Both fiction and non-fiction will be helpful.

    • Novels can expose you to new words. For example, reading the latest legal thriller will likely expose you to some legal jargon you’ve never heard before.
    • Read the newspaper. Some papers even have a daily feature that highlights language and explores the meanings of words.
    • Make time to read each day. You could make it a point to scroll through the news while you drink your morning coffee, for example.
  4. Image titled Understand a Word Without Using a Dictionary Step 12

    4

    Play games. Learning can actually be fun! There are many enjoyable activities that can help you to build your vocabulary. Try doing crossword puzzles.

    • Crossword puzzles are a great way to learn new words. They will also stretch your brain by giving you interesting clues to figure out the right word.
    • Play Scrabble. You’ll quickly learn that unusual words can often score the most points.
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  • Question

    Is there a list of prefixes/suffixes, or a simple etymology handbook, that I can obtain from the Internet or someplace else?

    Community Answer

    I’m sure there are many! Check websites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other booksellers who might sell grammar handbooks. You could also try checking your local book stores.

  • Question

    How does one find out and understand the formation of words?

    Community Answer

    If you can recognize the prefixes, suffixes, and anything else that might alter the root word, then you’ll know how the root is being altered. For example, ‘amuse’ is made up of ‘a’ as in ‘not’ and ‘muse’ referring to ponderous thought. Even if you don’t recognize the root ‘muse’ because it’s a more archaic term, you know that the ‘a’ inverses it’s meaning.

  • Question

    How can I know the exact meaning of a word using dictionaries from many leanings given?

    Donagan

    Substitute each meaning into the sentence where you encountered the word, and see which definition makes the most sense within the context of that sentence.

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  • Keep a notebook. This could be useful if you come across a word that you want to learn later, if you want to list any words that share suffixes or prefixes (both of which are known as «roots», which also include anything that goes into the middle.)

  • Read etymology dictionaries. They are found online and presumably in bookstores if you look hard enough.

  • Make your own notes in your personal English notebook to remember important points later on.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

To understand a word without a dictionary, try re-reading the entire sentence to see if the context helps you to find out what the word means. If it’s unclear, try to figure it out by thinking about the meaning of the words you’re familiar with, since the unknown word might have a similar meaning. Additionally, look for common prefixes in words, such as «anti,» which means against, or «extra,» which means beyond. Next, check the following sentences for clues, such as the topic the word is related to. Alternatively, keep a list of unknown words so you can check them in a dictionary at a later date. For tips on how to identify root words and how to learn words by doing crossword puzzles, read on!

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Reader Success Stories

  • Aaron Junior

    Aaron Junior

    Jul 26, 2016

    «This article has really helped me especially finding the meaning of the word using prefixes, suffixes, and word…» more

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Of course, there are those students that this works for, but from what I have seen very few.  And the few that it works for they are, I am pretty sure, doing something else, probably unconsciously, to enable this to happen.  I will not pursue this right here as to what they might be doing, but by all means, if you are one of them and you are aware of what you do, I would be very pleased to hear from you.

So what is a good method?  To understand that, we need to have a fundamental understanding of how our brain works.  I will not be talking here about neurones, synapses etc. Instead, I will be reflecting here on commonsense understandings we can all come to, based on our own experiences.  You will find that there is, in fact, a lot of research to substantiate what I am about to share.

In life, we do not usually set out to remember things but we do.  When we walk down the street and see a butcher in a shopping area close to where we are now staying, if we are interested in cooking or we have been asked to buy some meat, we will put that into our memory.  We make no real effort to memorise, but we do put it into our memory. How?  By linking it to our needs, which is important to us now, or what think might be important to us later.  I am sure that there are many people who would walk past the same butcher and not even notice it.  Why? Because it has no value or interest to them at that point in time.

Here is a very important key, that is overlooked.  Memory works best when we are dealing with things that are important to us, there and then.  The second thing to note is that there these links were made to our life, to what was already in our brain.  From all the research we know that memory works best when the new item is hooked into what we already know.  So the more the hooks, or the links, the more likely that we are going to recall the item… and the more personal and immediate are the links, the more chance we are going to remember it.

So let’s give you an example. For argument’s sake, say you want to learn the meaning of “bottle”.  Note, I didn’t say memorise.  Well, let’s say you came across it in a picture dictionary, or an article and you looked it up in your dictionary…  for now, let’s say a bilingual one.

You see the word or the picture of a bottle and you will immediately know the meaning, but how will you retain the meaning of that word…or how will you avoid forgetting it…or how will you put it into your working memory?

The trick is to put it into your life, into sentences in the language you are learning.  If you use your mother tongue, you will be asking your brain to do gymnastics of the kind that are difficult.  Remembering words in two languages at the time you are speaking one is difficult, and this is because different languages occupy different parts of the brain. In other words, when you speak one, stay in the one you are speaking.

Ideally write 3 sentences, each of which is personal, the more feeling, or memories they evoke in themselves the better they will be.

# My new shampoo comes in a lovely blue bottle.

# I dropped a bottle of milk yesterday and my sister got angry with me.

# That bottle of perfume that my wife just bought has a gorgeous scent.

Compare this sentence to The bottle is on the table. There is no personal element, does not appear to evoke anything and in fact, is a dreadfully dull sentence. So this is the kind of sentence you need to avoid creating or using.

This process might seem cumbersome at first ( and it is for a time! ) but once you get the hang of it, and use it time and time again, you will learn to do it so fast that you will be hardly aware that you are doing it.

Another reason why this method works well is that you have mobilized your brain to get the new language involved in your life.  AND you have been forced to make sentences, hence you have made linguistic contexts for the new words.  Can you see now why it is much much more likely that once you have done this, you will never forget the word in question, or if you do, it will only be a temporary lapse? And because you have placed it into a linguistic context, you have also strengthened the language you are learning at the same time. Now isn’t that a bonus.

There are clearly other issues in how to remember vocabulary in an effective way but this technique I have just shown you will transform your mnemonic skills.  That is of course if you utilize the technique and persist with it! For a more in-depth look at how this can work and fit into your overall strategies in learning a language, do check out my recently released book, Language Learning Unlocked.

For those of you who would like to listen to this post, here it is: 

By OptiLingo • 4 minute read

Learning a new language is fun, but the amount of memorization it requires can be overwhelming or just plain frustrating. Although memorization is necessary, there is a way to remember vocabulary in a fun way.

Cramming never works. Traditional language learning methods emphasized drill memorization. However, this strategy is harmful to language learning. Without the results, students lose their motivation. Many language learners have fallen victim to rote memorization techniques in the past. There are much better language learning methods today that are scientifically proven.

To avoid boring and tedious techniques, try spicing up your vocabulary exercises with these easy tricks:

Psst! Did you know we have a language learning app?

You’re only one click away!

1. Use Images Along With Your New Vocabulary

The primary use of language is communication. And there’s a lot more to that than just word. It’s important to incorporate images into your memorization exercises. This can not only make your language learning more effective, but it can also add a splash of color to an otherwise boring task.

2. Mock Teaching a Foreign Language

Do you think it’s easier to teach? When you’re trying to remember vocabulary, it actually is. Pretend to explain the meaning of new words to an imaginary audience. This can help you understand the meaning better, and increase recall speed. Don’t be afraid to act silly for your own enjoyment.

how to remember vocabulary

3. Understand How Memory Works

Your brain has limits. Your attention and motivation fade over time. This influences how much information you commit to your long term memory. Learn about the difference between short and long term memory to plan your studies efficiently. Using Spaced Repetition Systems in your studies can help you remember the vocabulary much more effectively than any other method. Forgetting is a natural part of learning, but if you can turn it to your advantage, spaced repetition can fast track your language learning journey.

4. Pick the Right Language Learning Resources

Using language learning methods that work for you is the only way to successfully learn a foreign language. Invest time into finding what these are exactly. Whether it’s a classroom setting, private tutor or a language learning app, you need to see results. If you find a good method that brings you closer to your goals, memorizing vocabulary will be an easy part of the journey.

5. Use Mnemonics to Your Advantage

This popular memory aid is invaluable when trying to remember vocabulary. Use mnemonics to learn a series of words efficiently. You can make a short story based on your goal vocabulary. The odds of committing vocabulary to your memory effectively are much higher if they’re part of a story. Chances are you’ll learn them in just a day or two.

Funny or strange stories create an image in your mind that makes recalling the words easy. It also helps you remember the meaning behind the words. After a while, you won’t even need the story to remember the vocabulary. The word and its meaning will live separately in your bilingual memory.

Keep in mind that mnemonics are better served for helping you remember new words in the short-term. For long-term learning, you’ll need to focus on using what you remember with the mnemonics. That’s how you can get the most out of your language lessons.

how to remember vocabulary

6. Stress the Right Syllables

Emphasizing part of a word makes it easier to remember it. You can use this technique alongside mnemonic storytelling to maximize effectiveness. Stressing syllables is also better for your pronunciation. Listen to how a native speaker pronounces the words. By practicing vocabulary in the same way, your accent will improve. You’ll sound more like a native speaker yourself.

7. Enjoy Your Vocabulary Memorization

Learning a language is hard work. It takes a lot of time. That’s why it’s important to make it fun. Whatever method works for you, make sure you enjoy yourself. You’ll see results much faster. Not to mention that you’ll reap the benefits of being bilingual more efficiently.

Foreign Language Vocabulary Isn’t Everything

It’s also important to note that you can’t gauge fluency by counting how many words you know. Having a good base vocabulary is always useful. But focusing too much on expanding your vocabulary may leave other aspects of language learning weaker.

Make sure you practice other aspects of language learning equally. Speaking, reading, writing, and even grammar are important skills to practice if you want to master a foreign language.

If you’re looking for a language learning program that emphasizes successful memorization, OptiLingo is the tool for you. Our language learning app was built on two proven language theories: comprehensible input and spaced repetition. This means that you’ll find out the meaning of every vocabulary word. You’ll also receive repeated information regularly. This ensures that everything is committed to your long term memory effectively. Start your journey to fluency with the best language learning method today.

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