Using the word learnt

What is the difference between learnt vs. learned ?

If you’re learning English for the first time, the easiest grammar lesson to learn is that if a word has two spellings, it’s likely because of American English vs. British English. Learning the difference between learnt and learned is no different, although it appears to be a topic of hot debate. 

The words learnt and learned are the past tense forms of the verb ‘to learn,’ which means ‘to gain or acquire knowledge.’ Both spellings are correct, but “learnt” is more common outside of the United States (and particularly in the United Kingdom). 

The only time “learnt” is undeniably wrong is when “learned” is an adjective that describes someone as educated or smart. So, unless you’re trying to be ironic, avoid using “learnt” for descriptions.

Learned vs. learnt = American English vs. British English

The main differences in spelling between learned and learnt involve ‘standardized’ forms of the English Language. Dictionaries in the United Kingdom declare “learnt” as the standard spelling, while American dictionaries prefer “learned.” 

Noah Webster, the co-founder of Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, played a significant role in the standardization of American English in the early 19th century. The Word Counter covered similar spelling misnomers, including: 

• Canceled vs. cancelled? 
• Flier or flyer?
• Toward vs. towards?

Another confusing trait about learned vs. learnt is that “learn” is an irregular verb. An irregular verb is a word with different tense forms than you’d logically expect. For example, most verbs conjugate to past tense forms that end with -ed. Irregular verbs follow their own rules, though, and most English speakers have to memorize these tense forms early on. 

Irregular verbs with similar spelling differences to learned vs. learnt include: 

• Burned and burnt 
• Dreamed and dreamt
• Dwell and dwelt
• Kneeled and knelt
• Leaped and leapt
• Spelled and spelt 
• Smelled and smelt
• Spilled and spilt
• Spoiled and spoilt

Note how one form ends with -ed while the other ends with -t? Depending on geography and local dialects, English speakers may choose to use one verb form over the other. English speakers in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or Australia tend to use the -t form of words, while Americans trend toward the -ed form (but not always). 

There are instances in English when the -t endings always top the -ed endings. For instance, “sleeped” and “keeped” are incorrect versions of “slept” and “kept.” Additional irregular verbs with -t endings include: 

• Build = built, not “builded.” 
• Deal = delt, not “dealed
• Leave = left, not “leaved.”
• Meet = met, not “meeted.”
• Send = sent, not “sended.”
• Shoot = shot, not “shooted.”
• Weep = wept, not “weeped.”

The adjective “learned” is never “learnt”

It’s not uncommon for Americans to believe that “learnt” is informal or that it sounds 

uneducated. The perceived informality is likely due to the adjective form of “learned,” which we use to describe someone as informed or expertly in a skill, study, or experience. 

As an adjective, we can use the spelling of learned for the adverb learnedly and the noun learnedness, but we’d never use learnt for “learntly” or “learntness” (in the English Language, anyways). Therefore, it’s safe to say that we shouldn’t use “learnt” as an adjective. 

Non-American English grammar guides take the adjective and verb spellings into account when deciphering the correct use of learnt vs. learned. For example, The ABC Style Guide (an Australian media group) states that either spelling is okay as long there’s no confusion between “learned” as an adjective and verb. 

What does learned mean?

The word learned is an adjective and the past participle of the verb “learn,” which means: 

1. To develop a skill or knowledge of a subject through studying, observation, mentorship, or life experience; or,
2. To teach someone a skill or subject (archaic). 

Sentence examples with the verb learned include:

“Today, we learned about the solar system.”
“I learned how to speak French.”
“Have you learned your lesson yet?”
“He’s learned nothing.” 
“She’s going to learn you to mind your own business” (archaic). 

As an adjective, the word learned describes something as educated or acquired through learning. Similar terms include the adverb learnedly or the noun learnedness. 

Sentence examples with the adjective learned include:

“Stephen Hawkings was a learned man.”
I wouldn’t call the class enlightened, but it is a group of learned students.”
“Constant apologizing is a learned behavior and response.” 
“Some people develop learned helplessness as a coping mechanism.”

Synonyms

Verb: Absorb, assimilate, digest, discover, familiarize, grasp, hear, master, memorize, retain, understand. 

Adjective: Academic, bookish, educated, erudite, esoteric, intellectual, knowledgeable, lettered, literate, polished, scholarly, well-read. 

Antonyms

Verb: Disregard, forget, ignore, lose, miss, misunderstand, neglect, overlook.

Adjective: Benighted, dark, ignorant, illiterate, lowbrow, semiliterate, uncivilized, uneducated, unlearned, unscholarly.

What does learnt mean?

The word learnt is another past tense form of the verb learn, except it’s more common for British English. But unlike the word learned, British English doesn’t use “learnt” as an adjective to describe someone as educated. 

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, British English only uses the word learnt as the past simple and past participle of learn. More specifically, the British definition of learnt conveys the act of obtaining or discovering information.

Sentence examples with the verb learnt include: 

“I fear that I haven’t learnt much of anything.” 
“There were many lessons learnt along the way.”
“She learnt a lot about the planet Venus.”

Synonyms

Ascertain, determine, discern, gather, gain, grasp, hear, master, memorize, pick-up, read, receive, see, study, uncover, understand.

Antonyms

Ignore, lose, miss, misunderstand, neglect, overlook, pass, release. 

A brief history of learnt and learned

The words learnt and learned each come from the verb learn, which entered the English Language via Old English (circa 500 to 1100 CE). At the time, the Old English term leornian meant “to get knowledge” or “to study, read,” and “think about.” 

English speakers of the 13th century used the verb learned to mean “teach,” but modern English speakers hardly use the verb in this form. According to Lexico, this archaic use of learned fell out of favor around the 19th century. 

How to use learnt vs. learned in a sentence?

To use learnt and learned in a sentence correctly, it’s important to realize how both words are past tense of the verb “learn.” By itself, “learn” and “learns” occurs in the present tense, while the act of “learning” presides in past, present, and future continuous tenses. 

The words learned and learnt represent the past participle of learn, so we only use them to actions of the past. More specifically, we use learned and learnt for the simple past tense and the present, future, and past perfect tenses. 

<Simple past tense

The simple past tense describes any action that occurred before the present moment. 

“I learned how to use Grammarly.” 
“I learnt about the influence of American English.” 

Present perfect tense

The present perfect tense describes actions that occurred at an unknown or indefinite past time. 

“I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.” 
“She has learnt much through BBC News.”

Present perfect formula: have/has + learned/learnt.

Future perfect tense

The future perfect tense describes future actions that will end before another future point.

“You will have learned English grammar by then.” 
“By the time you reach middle school, you will have learnt basic grammar rules.”

Future perfect formula: will have + learned/learnt.

Past perfect tense

The past perfect tense (or pluperfect) describes completed actions that ended before another past event. 

“Thankfully, I had learned how to use irregular verbs by then.” 
“I was glad to hear that students had learnt to avoid common spelling errors.”

Past perfect formula: had + learned/learnt.

How to pronounce learned vs. learnt?

Another big difference between learnt and learned involves pronunciation and, believe me, it’s not as simple as you’d like it to be. Several online dictionaries feature different pronunciations of learnt and learned, and they appear to depend on user dialect, word form, and the word’s approximate definition. 

How to pronounce learned as an adjective?

The adjective learned always contains two syllables, but it’s pronunciation changes by region. Americans pronounce learned as “ler-ned” or “ler-nid” (lɜːrnɪd), while British speakers say “lur-nid” (lɜːnɪd). 

There appears to be one exception, however. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, Americans also pronounce the adjective form of learned with one syllable as “lurnd” (ˈlərnd, ˈlərnt). The single syllable seems confusing at first, but it makes sense when you realize that people use verb definition as an adjective. For example:

• “A learned man.” = learned (two syllables)
• “Learned behavior.” = learned (one syllable)

How to pronounce the verbs learned and learnt?

According to Lexico, English speakers tend to pronounce the verb learned with one syllable. Americans pronounce learned as “lurnd” (ləːnd), and British speakers pronounce learnt as “lurnt” (ləːnt). However, if an American said “learnt,” it would sound like “lernt.”

FAQs: Related to learned vs. learnt

Is learnt informal?

If you live in the United States or Canada, the word learnt might sound informal because it’s less common than learned. If you live in the United Kingdom, the word learnt is the formal past tense form of the verb learn.

Is learnt a valid scrabble word?

According to Merriam-Webster’s Scrabble Word Finder, learnt is a valid Scrabble word. In addition to learnt, you can play learn, learned, and learning with 83 playable words. 

Test Yourself!

Ready to take your grammar skills abroad? Test how well you understand learnt vs. learned with the following multiple-choice questions. 

1. ______________ is the past tense of learn. 
   a. Learning
   b. Learnt
   c. Learned
   d. A and B
2. For British English, “learnt” is the ______________ of learned.
   a. Irregular form
   b. Common form
   c. Future tense form 
   d. Continuous tense form
3. What is the opposite of a “learned person”?
   a. A person who likes to read.
   b. Someone with a lot of knowledge. 
   c. A student in college.
   d. A person that refuses to learn. 
4. Which of the following is not an irregular verb?
   a. Burned
   b. Dreamed
   c. Need
   d. Smelled
5. Which of the following sentences uses “learned” or “learnt” incorrectly? 
   a. “I’m a learnt scholar.” 
   b. “He learned about Pokemon.” 
   c. “Harry learnt much at Hogwarts.” 
   d. “She’s a charming and learned diplomat.” 

Answers

1. C
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. A

Photo sources:

1. Photo by Victoria Heath
2. Photo by Element5 Digital 

Sources

1. Harper, Douglas. “Learn (v.).” Online Etymology Dictionary, Etymonline, 2020. 
2. “Learn.” Lexico, Oxford University Press, 2020.
3. “Learned, learnt.” The ABC Style Guide, ABC, 2020. 
4. “Learned.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 2020.“Learned.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.
5. “Learn•ed.” Webster’s New World College Dictionary, AP Stylebook, 2020. 
6. “Learnt.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
7. “Learnt.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.
8. “Learnt or Learned?” Lexico, Oxford University Press, 2020. 
9. “To learn.” Reverso Conjugation, Reverso-Softissimo, 2020.

Main Learnt vs. Learned Takeaways:

• Both learnt and learned are acceptable forms of the verb learn in past participle and past tense.
• Learnt is more common outside of North America, especially in British English.
• Wherever you are, when used as an adjective, only learnedis correct.
• Sometimes learned is used as an adjective, but learnt is always a verb.

What’s the Meaning of Learned?

As a verb, learned means that you completed the process of acquiring or retaining knowledge. It’s how we conjugate the verb learn in both past tense and past participle. However, as an adjective, learned describes a knowledgeable or well-educated person. You also pronounce learned differently depending on whether you use it as a noun or a verb. For example, learned the verb sounds more like one syllable while learned the adjective sounds more like two.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into this difference in pronunciation.

You don’t fully pronounce the second “e” when you use learned in reference to information previously acquired. You know you’re saying the verb correctly when the word sounds more like it only has one syllable.

Here are some examples of when you would use this pronunciation of learned:

Conversely, you emphasize the second “e” when you use learned as an adjective to describe a person. You know you’re saying the adjective correctly when the word sounds more like two distinct syllables.

Here’s an example of when to use this pronunciation of learned:

Learnt vs. Learned: Which one is Correct?

As a verb,both learned and learnt are correct. They both mean that you completed the process of acquiring or retaining knowledge. And, they are both accepted ways of conjugating the verb learn in past tense and past participle. Learnt is exactly the same thing, just the more common way of spelling the verb outside of North America. However, as an adjective, learned describes a knowledgeable or well-educated person. When used this way, only learned is correct, no matter your location. In short, you cannot use learnt as an adjective.

At the end of the day, you can typically use learnt or learned in a sentence without introducing a grammatical error. The only difference is that learned is more common in the U.S. and Canada, while learnt is often preferred outside of North America.

Interestingly, the -ed variant for past tense verbs is becoming more common in British English. That means learned may eventually replace learnt as the preferred spelling for English speakers in countries that use British English.

When used as verbs that indicate the past tense of learn, learnt and learned are interchangeable. But, you cannot use learnt as an adjective, as this function is reserved for learned.

How do you use Learnt in a Sentence?

You can use learnt any time you need the past tense of the verb learn. Let’s review some examples of learnt and learned in sentences.

In the sentences above, learned and learnt are interchangeable words. However, it’s important to remember you can only use learned as an adjective, not learnt.

You may have heard of learned behavior or learned attitude.

You can’t go wrong using learnt vs. learned as a verb, regardless of your location. Learnt is more common outside of North America, but it’s still an acceptable word for U.S. and Canadian speakers. You can even use it in Scrabble!

Test Your Learnt vs. Learned Skills With This Quick Quiz

Read More: Toward Vs. Towards: Which One Should You Use?

• #1

Which word is more used?

learned = learnt
proved = proven ???
showed = shown ???

<<Mod note,
This thread consists of several on this specific topic, now merged for convenience.
Panj>>

• #2

Since your question deals with English language usage, I’ll transfer your inquiry to the English-Only forum.

Saludos,
LN

• #3

For me, «learned» and «learnt» are interchangeable when used as the past tense of the verb «to learn». I have, however, never seen the latter used as an adjective.

As to the other two pairs, «proved» and «showed» are the past tense forms of the verbs «to prove» and «to show» respectively. «Proven» and «shown» are the past participles of these same verbs. The past tense and the past participle are distinct forms and cannot be used interchangeably.

• #4

«Learnt» is not used in standard English in the United States.

• #5

Thanks Wink Wink

• #6

It confuses the heck out of me…

elroy

Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)

• #7

Both are correct. «Learned» is more common in American English, «learnt» in British English.

• #8

elroy said:

Both are correct. «Learned» is more common in American English, «learnt» in British English.

I myslef have learnt that learnt is the one until I learnt that almost everyone has learnt to use learned instead…Anyway, that sounds fair! Thanks a lot

• #9

There was very recently a thread that contained a fine discussion of the above. Can anyone help me find it?

• #10

Hi Scotu,
Use the forum Search function. It works. There have been many threads on both this and other word pairs like spelled — spelt, spoiled — spoilt. Some go back to 2004.

• #11

cuchuflete said:

Hi Scotu,
Use the forum Search function. It works. There have been many threads on both this and other word pairs like spelled — spelt, spoiled — spoilt. Some go back to 2004.

Thanks, what a great tool I never noticed it!

• #12

Hi, everybody.

Should it be «Using the steps you have learned in Topic 3,… » or should it be «Using the steps you have learnt in Topic 3,… » ?

Which is the correct past participle of «learn» ??

Thanks for your replies.

Regards,
Makiyo

• #13

At school, I learnt that »learn» was an irregular verb, and that »learnt » was the correct past form

I think that I later noticed that native speakers use »learned» as well. So, I am not sure which one is correct right now.

Let’s wait for the opinion of a native speaker

• #14

I believe that «learnt» is the correct past participle of «learn» but my dictionaries lump «learned» and «learnt» together in every other way. I would find it odd to hear someone say «learnt» — it sounds very old-fashioned and everyone I know says «learned».

• #15

For the verbs that tend to go either way, I’ve never used the «-nt» ending. I always learned to write it like that. The water is spilled to me, not spilt. Though I don’t consider the other way wrong, I just completed prefer the «-ed.»

• #16

Is it possible that «learned» is used as an adjective ONLY?

Example: He is a learned person.

• #17

Is it possible that «learned» is used as an adjective ONLY?

Example: He is a learned person.

No.

• #18

Learned = American English
Learnt = British English (generally speaking)

• #20

Thanks to all who responded.

I learnt «learnt» in school, quite many years ago. I was just wondering whether the word / tense has changed now. Now I know: it hasn’t.

So I will stick with «learnt».

Thanks again to all who participated.

• #21

But here, too, are the less known, though no less extraordinary, such as Olaudah Equiano, an African enslaved from childhood, who learnt to write, and wrote an unforgetable tale.

When I read the above sentence I bump at learnt.
I will accept that it is probably correct English but it sounds so clumsy when the perfectly acceptable learned is available.
In the context of this sentence is there any difference between learned and learnt.

.,,

elroy

Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)

• #22

No.

«Learnt» is simply British and «learned» is American — but there is no difference.

I take it from your reaction that «learned» is more common in Australia?

• #23

Yes definately.. We use learned. This also looked really strange to me.. I guess just another annoying americanism

• #24

No, Pannadol, you can’t blame this one on the Yanks! As elroy explained, «Learnt» is simply British and «learned» is American.»

• #25

Yes definately.. We use learned. This also looked really strange to me.. I guess just another annoying americanism

So should I call inability to deal with variety just another annoying Australianism? Watch what you say lest it be construed as ignorance, and besides, you’re wrong.

• #26

I didn’t mean to start the old BE -v- AE -v- OZE. The quoted sentence is from the fly leaf of the Simon Schama A History of Britian I just purchased. It seems to be well accepted British English with an impeccable pedigree.

.,,

• #27

These «strong» forms are always under pressure to revert to the weak regular forms. I have no problem with «learnt» or «burnt» as I am quite used to them. I believe it’s just a matter of how often your ear is refreshed. As an example, I find no difficulty with «When he rode into the arena» or «When he strode into the room» I am happy with «When he had ridden into the arena», but not so happy with «When he had stridden into the room». I guess it’s right enough, but it hasn’t had sufficient reinforcement not to stop me in my tracks.
As an adjective, we would only ever use «My learned friend»

• #28

As one who wallows in the luxury of being able to use either learnt or learned at will, I would almost certainly have written … learned to write …
I suspect (rationalising) that I use the -ed for for the past tense and the -t form for the participle. I learned, and learned, and learned — until at last it was completely learnt.

Learned, adjective, is always -ed. But then it is pronounced differently as well.

I’ve added this thread to the compendium of learned v learnt threads from the past.

• #29

I’m very surprised to hear two Australians claiming that «learned» is the more common! At school I learnt that «learnt» was the only acceptable form, in fact I was completely unaware of the use of «learned» until I was exposed to more American language. I would have said that in Australia «learned» is only ever an adjective (i.e. pronounced learnèd).

I’d still say that Australian English favours the -t endings for all those verbs that take them. To those Australians who don’t favour -t endings, I’d like to ask what you think of the title of Bill Bryson’s book, In a Sunburned Country. It should sound abominable to Australian ears!

• #30

Unsurprisingly In a Sunburned Counry sounds fine.
I have been sunburned a few times and the word is common.

.,,

• #31

Reading this rehash of what I’ve learned about alternate participles, I think of one AE (Easy, boys and girls, not exclusively AE, just AE) term that uses the ‘nt form: burnt orange.

• #32

How do you know when to use the words ‘learned’ or ‘learnt’ in a sentence?

• #33

These are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is more common in British English, and learned in American English.

• #34

Hello,
I think that «learnt» is from the U.K. and «learned» from the U.S.A.
What do you think?

Bye.

• #35

I just read that «learnt» is an obsolete past form of learn! is that true? they said it has been replaced by ‘learned’

• #36

I’ve never seen «learnt» in the New York Times. It is always «learned».

Maybe it is OK in England; I don’t think it is acceptable in the USA.

• #37

thanks so much for the reply!! good to know

• #38

I have learnt/learned that «learnt» is British and «learned» American. My teachers don’t accept my using «learned» since we are supposed to speak British English here in Argentina.

• #39

excellent.. thanks a lot!

• #40

Yes, «learnt» is British English, so are «slept» and «dreamt.’ My American mother used to «correct» my sister and me for saying these words, but our Canadian father and would «correct» us back. The British forms sound better to me so I still use them! But I like to be different … if I were in England, I’d probably use «-ed!»

• #41

All three of the original examples and, I believe, the others mentioned in this thread are examples of differences between AE and BE.
I think «learned» and «learnt» are now both used in BE (perhaps the AE version (learned) is slowly replacing the BE version(learnt)).
However «show» is still an irregular verb in BE — «showed» in the simple past but «shown» is the past participle.

• #42

I think that, in AE, we tend to do what Panjandarum said he does, use the -ed form as the past tense, and -t as the past participle. In America, would wouldn’t never ask, for example, «have you sleeped well?» but «have you slept well?» (although it would be more common to ask, depending on the circumstances, «did you sleep well?»)

• #43

Both are correct: learnt/learned. Some people will choose one form over the other it is no big deal. Sorry, there is so many varieties of English that I don’t see how someone can say it’s wrong. You will find if someone can understand they aren’t going to say anything. If they say «well that’s wrong.» You can say it the other way and just ignore . Or you can have a long discussion of how people use the other form.

• #44

Here is another Australian perspective.

Despite the influence of American culture, I was taught that learned was the simple past and learnt the past partciple. The same went for the verbs to burn, to dream, to spell, to spill, to smell (among others).

He burned his finger badly yesterday, but he has been burnt worse.

There was a time when I dreamed of living by the beach, but I have dreamt all my life of living in the mountains.

I spelled the word the wrong way, but in the book it was spelt correctly.

You spilled your drink everywhere but don`t worry, it is no use crying over spilt milk.

He smelled awful yesterday, but he has smelt worse.

Note: The simple past and past participle are two distinct verb forms! In English these are often spelt the same way but not always. They should not be bundled together in the same group and labelled simply as the «past tense».

• #45

My father (British, born 1897, raised in Canada) always used «dreamt» as the past tense, not past participle. I’d always thought this was because of his British-Canadian upbringing, but I just heard a couple days ago that Teddy Roosevelt had tried to force the dictionary publishers to «simplify» our spelling by using the «t» ending instead of «ed» for the past tense — burnt, dreamt, learnt, etc. So maybe what my father was saying was not an old-fashioned Britishism but a modernism that never really caught on!

• #46

My father (British, born 1897, raised in Canada) always used «dreamt» as the past tense, not past participle. I’d always thought this was because of his British-Canadian upbringing, but I just heard a couple days ago that Teddy Roosevelt had tried to force the dictionary publishers to «simplify» our spelling by using the «t» ending instead of «ed» for the past tense — burnt, dreamt, learnt, etc. So maybe what my father was saying was not an old-fashioned Britishism but a modernism that never really caught on!

The list which Roosevelt ordered the US Government Printing Office to use can be seen here. Dreamt is not among the spellings listed, nor are burnt or learnt, likely because they were already standard spellings. All are in The Century Dictionary of 1895, although the Century says of learnt that it is «an occasional preterit and past participle of learn.» (The Century Supplement of 1909 has an entry «lern, lernd, lerning,» referring to them as simplified spellings, but they must have appeared in some other list.)

Roosevelt’s action was effectively reversed by the US Congress. They passed a law refusing to fund such a change.

Roosevelt’s list does include some other spellings where final ed is replaced by t.

Last edited: May 23, 2009

Learning a foreign language isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to vocabulary. (I’ve been studying Japanese for years and still have trouble remembering words!) Luckily, there are many ways you can learn English vocabulary—and some of them are even a little fun!

In this guide, we go over the top five methods you can use to learn English words and give you a few tips on how to find English words to study.

Feature image: Nicolas Raymond/freestock.ca

Method 1: Make Flashcards

One of the most popular (and arguably best) ways to learn English vocabulary is to use flashcards. Each flashcard will have one English word written on the front and the word’s translation or definition on the back.

To study them, you’ll look at one side of a card and say the word on it in the opposite language before you look at the other side of the card (so if you were looking at the English side, for example, you’d say the word in your native language).

Flashcards are excellent resources because they help you memorize vocabulary words both quickly and effectively. They’re also customizable and reusable. Both paper and digital cards are available, and you can make your own cards, buy a pre-made deck, or download a deck online.

Pros

• Flashcards are easy to make. If you’re making paper cards, all you need are note cards (or small pieces of paper), a pencil or pen, and a list of the words you want to study. For digital cards, all you need is a computer and some software or a website to make them with.

• They’re interactive, especially if you make them yourself. With paper flashcards, you must write down all of the words you want to study as well as physically thumb through the cards, helping you concentrate on what each word means.

• Flashcard decks are easy to expand if you find new vocabulary you want to study. All you need to do is make a new flashcard and then add it to your deck—that’s it!

• They’re easy to randomize. Mixing up the order in which you study is essential to ensuring that you fully understand the meanings of the words you’re learning.

Cons

• Making flashcards is time consuming. Though not particularly difficult to make, flashcards can take a long time to create (regardless of whether you’re making paper or digital cards). Therefore, make sure you have ample time to set aside when making them.

• Paper flashcards are bulky and take up a lot of space. As a result, they’re often difficult to take places and use for on-the-go reviewing. If you’re hoping to brush up on your English vocabulary at places other than home, consider bringing only some of your cards with you or using a more compact resource such as a list (see method 2 below).

How to Use This Method Effectively

Flashcards must be used in specific ways in order to be effective for English-language learning. These methods differ depending on whether you’re studying with paper or digital flashcards.

Paper Flashcards

Paper flashcards are best for those who prefer more traditional study methods and want a break from computers and smartphones.

You can use any blank note cards to make your flashcards. Once you have some, start making your cards: with each card, write an English word (spelled correctly!) on the front and its translation in your native language (or an image of the word) on the back. You may also include on the front the word’s part of speech and/or a sample English sentence.

When finished, begin studying your flashcards using the «waterfall» method. With this method, you’ll study cards in subsets (smaller stacks of cards) and get to review harder English words more often than words you already know.

We explain the waterfall method in more detail in our guide to TOEFL vocabulary flashcards. However, to summarize briefly, here’s how it works:

#1: Go through all of your flashcards and make two piles: a «Know It» pile (with words you know) and a «Struggled» pile (with words you don’t know). Put the «Struggled» pile to the right of the «Know It» pile:

#2: Next, go through the cards in your «Struggled» pile one at a time. As you do this, make a second «Know It» pile for words you know (put this pile to the right of your original «Know It» pile). For words you don’t know, put them back in your «Struggled» pile.

#3: Continue this process of going through your «Struggled» pile and making new «Know It» piles until you only have four to five cards left in your «Struggled» pile. Here’s what your cards should look like:

#4: Now, work your way back up your «waterfall» of cards, starting with your «Struggled» pile. Go through this stack of cards until you know all of the words in it. You might have to go through it several times before you can remember all of the words.

#5: Combine the «Struggled» pile with the «Know It» pile directly to the left of it. Now, you’ll go through all of the words in both piles (combined as one) until you know all of these words.

#6: Repeat step 5 until you’ve gone through all of the cards in your deck, from right to left. You should now know the meanings of all of the English words on your flashcards!

Digital Flashcards

Some people (myself included!) prefer studying foreign languages with digital, or computerized, flashcards. These types of flashcards are accessible through software applications, websites, and/or apps.

While there are many free flashcard-making websites and programs available, my personal favorites are Anki and Memrise.

Anki is a free downloadable software through which you can make your own flashcards or download pre-made decks submitted by users. It uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often—similar to the waterfall method described above—making it convenient and easy to use.

Memrise, on the other hand, is a free language-learning website that offers tons of pre-made decks. It’s a little flashier and more game-like than Anki, so if you’d prefer a more «fun» way to learn English words, this is a great website (and app!) to try out.

Method 2: Make a Study List

Another helpful method is to make a list of all of the English-vocabulary words you want to learn. A list is different from flashcards in that it has all of the words you need to know in one place (instead of on separate cards). If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of using note cards, a study list is a solid option.

Pros

• The biggest benefit is that lists are easy to expand as you come across new words you want to know. For example, if you saw an English word you didn’t know on a sign at a restaurant, you can simply take out your list and write it down.

• You can use your list as a base for other study methods. Lists are helpful resources for identifying specific words to put on flashcards and use in vocabulary quizzes (see method 4).

• A list is less bulky than flashcards. With a list, you can keep track of dozens of words on a single sheet of paper, taking up far less space than hundreds of flashcards.

• It’s easy to make. All you need to do is write out each word, its part of speech (optional), and its meaning in your native language—nothing more!

Cons

• They’re pretty tedious and boring to work with. Unlike flashcards, which are highly interactive (you can make cards, flip through them, shuffle them, etc.), lists are static resources with few stimulating features.

• They make it difficult to randomize words. You’ll learn English words faster by sporadically mixing up the order in which you study them, but it’s a challenge to randomize words on lists since you can’t physically rearrange them as you can with flashcards.

How to Use This Method Effectively

Write your English words on the left side of a piece of paper, from top to bottom. I suggest numbering the words and adding their parts of speech, too (this is helpful because it teaches you how to use the words).

Then, on the right side of the paper, write the translation of each word in your native language (again, from top to bottom so that each translation aligns horizontally with its English equivalent). Here’s an example:

When you’re ready to start studying, get a separate sheet of paper (or your hand) to cover up the words on the right. You’ll then move this sheet down as you read and define each English word on the left. Make sure to say each word aloud in English before translating it into your native language.

Once you’ve defined a word, move your sheet of paper down to check that you’ve translated it correctly:

As you go through your list, consider marking any words you’re having trouble remembering. This way you’ll know right away which words you need to spend a little more time on than others.

Here are some additional ways you can use your list to learn English vocabulary:

• Study words in reverse. With this method, you’ll start at the bottom of your list and reveal words one at a time by moving your sheet up instead of down. This prevents you from simply memorizing the list in one particular order.

• Cover up the English side so that you must read the words in your native language and then translate them into English. Studying like this ensures you can come up with English equivalents for words all on your own.

These are both great methods to use after you’ve used the main method described above and are more familiar with the English vocabulary on your list.

Method 3: Write Out Words Repeatedly

If you want to practice spelling English words and like doing something physical as you study, writing out words is a solid option to try. With this method, you’ll write out each English word several times as you say it aloud.

If you’ve taken English courses in the past, you’ve probably had homework similar to this (I had to write out new words all the time for Japanese class in junior high and high school!). Although rote memorization isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it can still be a highly effective way to learn English words.

Pros

• It’s interactive. Unlike flashcards and lists, which you merely look at to study, you’re always doing something when writing out words. If you’re the type who gets easily antsy and likes having something to do with your hands as you study, this is a good method to try.

• It helps you remember how to spell words. Flashcards and lists mainly teach you what a word means, but writing out a word (rather than looking at it briefly) makes it far easier to remember how it’s spelled.

Cons

• Writing out words repeatedly can feel monotonous. Despite being an effective method, rote memorization isn’t a particularly fun way to learn a language and gets tiresome fast.

• You can easily lose focus on a word as you write it again and again. To truly benefit from this method, you need to focus on what each word means and how it’s spelled. Unfortunately, the repetitive motions make it easy to fall into a zombie-like stupor.

How to Use This Method Effectively

The best way to write out words is to have a set number of times you’re going to write them out. Usually, 10 to 20 times is sufficient. Just make sure you’re actively thinking about each word as you write it out: look at the letters and how they’re arranged, pronounce it, and then define it.

I find that it’s helpful to note the translation of each word (in your native language) above your repetitions so that you don’t forget the meanings of any words and can more readily make associations between words in your language and in English.

Finally, I strongly suggest using this method with one of the two methods above (flashcards or a study list) to keep you from getting bored with your studies. Personally, I think the flashcard method is better as it’s more fun and doesn’t require you to make another long list of words.

Method 4: Take Vocabulary Quizzes

If you’re tired of flashcards and lists, vocabulary quizzes are a great way to test what you’ve learned and ensure you truly understand the meanings of English words.

Many English-word quizzes are available for free online. While some are traditional tests, others are more game-like; for example, you might find a matching game in which you have to match English words with their meanings (also in English!).

You can also make your own vocabulary quizzes using any of the resources above (flashcards, lists, etc.).

Pros

• They check your English progress by testing what you’ve learned. Quizzes let you see whether you truly know the English words you’ve studied and can use them fluently. If you fail a quiz, you’ll know exactly which words to work on more.

• Most online vocabulary quizzes are free. You can find tons of free, high-quality English-language quizzes and games on websites geared toward students, ESL learners, and general language learners.

Cons

• You can’t really learn words from scratch using quizzes alone. In other words, you’ll need to combine quizzes with one or more of the methods above so you can learn English vocabulary before testing out what you know.

• Some online vocabulary quizzes aren’t super high quality, so make sure you’re choosing ones that have words you are familiar with and no glitches or inaccuracies.

How to Use This Method Effectively

You have two options when it comes to English-vocabulary quizzes: look for pre-made quizzes online, or make your own.

Online Quizzes

If looking for quizzes online, I recommend starting with popular learning websites.

One option is Free Rice, whose «English Vocabulary» mode tests your knowledge of various high-level English words. Each question gives you one English word and four possible synonyms; the answer choices are also in English, so you’ll need to have a high English level in order to do well. For each question you get right, Free Rice donates 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger. So this is an excellent resource to use if you like the idea of helping others as you study!

Quizlet and Cram are two other websites you can use for free. Both offer flashcards, vocabulary lists, quizzes, and games. All you do is choose an English-vocabulary deck (or make your own) and then test yourself using the site’s «Test» feature.

Both websites’ «Test» features are similar to an actual language test: you get a variety of question types, from fill-in-the-blank and matching to multiple choice and true or false. With Cram, however, you can also choose how the system grades your answers. For example, you can make it so you don’t lose any points for errors in punctuation or capitalization.

Making Your Own Quizzes

The best way to make your own English-vocabulary quiz is to use flashcards (see method 1). With flashcards, you can easily randomize the words you’ll get and can’t predict which words will come up.

To make a quiz, get out a sheet of paper and number it 1-20 (or however many questions you want to have). Then, choose a flashcard at random. On your paper, write down the English word shown and (without flipping the card over) its translation or meaning in your native language.

Don’t check your answers right away by flipping the cards over—rather, wait until you’ve finished your entire quiz and then flip over the flashcards to score your test.

Method 5: Use Vocabulary Words in Conversation and Writing

Although the methods above are extremely useful for memorizing English words, you’ll never retain the words you learn unless you actually use them in conversation and writing. In short, context is key!

Pros

• You’ll learn more quickly how to use and say words you’ve studied. Although you should always say words aloud when you first learn them, using them in conversation (especially with native English speakers) is by far the best way to ensure you’re actually pronouncing and using them correctly.

• You’ll remember words better by using them in sentences, so always look for opportunities to use words you learn in both conversation and writing.

• You can get feedback when conversing with or writing to native English speakers. If you’re not sure whether you’re using a word correctly, you can ask others to give you feedback or explain how they themselves use specific words in English.

Cons

• It’s not always easy to find people to use English with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, native speakers can be hard to find, making it difficult to actively use the words you learn in conversation and writing.

• You need someone to check that you’re using the words correctly. If you’re using a word in writing, for example, but aren’t sure whether you’re using it correctly, you’ll need to ask a native speaker to check it for you. This can be tough to do, though, if you don’t have access to any native speakers.

• It can be intimidating to use new words with others. When speaking another language, we tend to rely on using only the words we know so we can avoid making any obvious mistakes. Unfortunately, this fear can ultimately hinder your ability to learn new words and use them with confidence.

How to Use This Method Effectively

If you’d like to use new English words in conversation, you’ll first need to find native English speakers or other English-language learners to practice speaking with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, try looking for English-language groups or clubs you can join in your area. Meetup, for example, is a handy website you can use to search for language groups around you (you can even create one yourself!).

Another option for English-speaking practice is to pay for video chat language lessons. Fees vary depending on the company you use and how many hours you want to practice. Some of the best websites to try include Live Lingua, Verbalplanet, and italki.

But what about writing in English? If you want to practice using words in writing, start keeping a journal and then have other people (preferably native English speakers) read your work to check that you’re correctly using new vocabulary.

My personal recommendation is a free website called Lang-8 on which you write various posts (such as journal entries, questions, stories, etc.) in your target language. Once you make a post, native English speakers then correct your entries and offer feedback. I’ve used this website many times before while studying Japanese, and it’s always been an extremely helpful resource!

You can also find a pen pal to write to in English—ideally, one who is a native English speaker and will write to you in your native language in return. This way you can have someone you know correct your English as you also correct his or her writing in your language!

How to Find English Vocabulary to Study: 3 Options

Now that we’ve given you a handful of methods you can use for learning English vocabulary, here are a few tips on where to actually find new English words to study.

#1: Write Down Words You Hear and Read

This is perhaps one of the most practical methods for learning English vocabulary, and one I often used while living in Japan. Basically, you’ll keep a running list of any unfamiliar English words you hear or read in both your day-to-day life and studies.

For listening, some of the best resources to use for finding new words are as follows:

• Everyday conversation: Ideally, you’ll converse mostly with native English speakers; that said, it’s better to practice speaking with other English-language learners than with nobody at all!

• English movies and TV shows: Avoid turning on the subtitles for your native language. Instead, if you’re having trouble picking out key words, turn on the English subtitles; this will help you identify new words more quickly and let you see how they’re spelled.

• English podcasts: Start by browsing this excellent list of English podcasts for language learners. Then, find the ones that sound most interesting to you and start listening!

• YouTube: Find English videos on topics you’re interested in (and turn on English subtitles if needed).

For reading, try looking for new English words to practice in these resources:

• Newspapers: There are tons of high-quality English-language newspapers online. Intermediate speakers can start with easier English-news websites such as VOA Learning English and BBC Learning English, whereas advanced learners can dive right into popular news outlets such as CNN and The New York Times.

• Websites: Look for websites and blogs dealing with any topic of interest to you. I suggest looking for prominent websites with lots of followers to ensure that the English they use is high quality.

• Books and stories: What better way to learn new words than through your favorite fairy tales? Intermediate learners can start with children’s books and short stories, while advanced learners can jump to novellas and novels. Graphic novels are also excellent resources!

Once you’ve found vocabulary words you want to study, open a Word document on your computer and start making a list. You can then add words to this list whenever you come across ones you don’t know in your listening and reading practice.

Make sure to include most or all of the following elements on your vocabulary list:

• The word in English (spelled correctly!)
• Its part of speech
• The translation/meaning of the word in your native language
• An example sentence using the word

You can then use this list as your primary study list or to help you make flashcards and quizzes.

#2: Look for Free Word Lists Online

Another helpful option is to seek out pre-made English word lists. Waiting to hear or read new English vocabulary isn’t always practical for language learners, but you can luckily find many free English-word lists online using the websites mentioned above (e.g., Quizlet, Cram, Memrise, etc.).

If you want to study upper-level academic vocabulary, try looking specifically for vocabulary lists targeting popular college-admission tests, such as the TOEFL, GRE, SAT, and ACT. At PrepScholar, we’ve gathered all high-frequency words for these exams and even created free downloadable flashcards for the TOEFL and GRE.

#3: Use a Textbook

If you like having structure in your vocabulary studies, consider buying an English-language textbook or workbook. These books should give you plenty of new vocabulary words to study as well as lots of relevant exercises to help you memorize and retain them. Oftentimes, textbooks come with a built-in dictionary, too!

Make sure you’re choosing a book that’s highly reviewed and geared toward your English level. You can also try looking at books that specifically target the TOEFL. Unfortunately, English-language textbooks cater mostly to beginner and intermediate learners, so if you’re an advanced English speaker, you’ll likely benefit more from the two options above.

There are many different ways to learn English vocabulary, from rote memorization and repetition to flashcards and quizzes. But in the end, it’s up to you to figure out which methods will work best for your learning style.

Here are some final pieces of advice to remember when studying English vocabulary:

• Don’t try to memorize every single word. English is believed to have the most words of any language, and I guarantee you won’t be able to learn all of them (even native English speakers don’t know every word!). Therefore, focus on memorizing the words you encounter most often. For everything else, use a dictionary!

• Ask for help if you get stuck. If you can’t remember the meaning of a particular word and don’t have a dictionary on hand, don’t be afraid to ask someone to define it for you. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, and it’s certainly nothing to feel embarrassed about!

• Make studying English a habit. For a lot of people, it can be hard to find time to study English. But you’ll need a routine if you want to learn English words and actually remember them, so try to set aside at least 30 minutes every day to go through your study materials.

Good luck with your English studies!

What’s Next?

Need English-vocabulary words to study? Take a look at our list of 300+ high-frequency TOEFL words today! We also have created a free TOEFL vocabulary flashcards PDF here.

Want more tips on how to learn English? Start with our guide to learning English and figuring out your language goals. Then, move on to our article on the best English-language games you can play, with others or by yourself!

Planning to take the TOEFL? Then you’ll definitely want to read our expert tips on how to prepare for this tricky English test.

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!