How to Memorize Vocabulary: 7 Easy Ways to Learn New Words

how to memorize vocabulary

Have you ever felt “stuck” in conversations?

Maybe you knew what you wanted to say in your native language, but you couldn’t remember the English words?

Instead of having a conversation, you end up mentally translating — feeling rushed and frustrated…

This isn’t your fault.

Traditional language learning methods have worked against you. They’ve led you to believe that memorizing random groups of words is the best way to learn English.

But the truth is that humans aren’t good at remembering lists of words, translations, and grammar rules.

On top of that – it’s boring!

Today, I’ll show you the best ways to learn, memorize, and then speak English words so that you can improve your communication skills and speak fluently.

Table of Contents

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1. Develop Speaking Confidence for Better Recall

Many English students feel shy about speaking. They’re nervous about making mistakes or how they sound.

So when they’re speaking with someone, they struggle to remember the words they need.

Then, when they’re ALONE — they remember the words easily.

If you feel anxious about speaking, and this makes you forget words, you can learn how to build speaking confidence here.

It’s about building up to a confident level of UNDERSTANDING before pushing yourself to speak. The goal is to erase the doubts about pronunciation, grammar, and more that stop you from speaking. Then, when you do open your mouth, you’ll be better able to find the right words and be less stressed if you make a mistake.

Understand that native speakers make mistakes all the time, like not being able to find exactly the right word they want to say. The difference is that natives don’t spend much time worrying about it because they simply say something else.

Remember that there are many ways to express something, so relax and go with the next best thing you can think of.

Over time, you’ll get more comfortable, and your vocabulary will improve.

2. Make Listening Your Priority

The next time you’re in a conversation, I want you to shift your focus.

Instead of focusing on what you’re going to say next — focus on understanding what the other person is saying.

The value you get from conversations comes from the native English you hear, not what you say.

The benefits of listening include:

  • Learning “real” English words, and knowing how to use them. Helping you build your vocabulary.
  • Making the other person feel valued and appreciated — which makes them more likely to speak with you again!
  • Feeling more confident because you’re adding value to the conversation, which further helps you remember your words.
  • Listening to different native speakers talk about similar topics, which is a great way to practice your English and build fluency.

By removing the pressure to speak, you end up with more energy to learn, remember, and use your words.

And don’t worry — everyone LOVES being listened to!

two roommates talking

3. Use Mnemonic Devices (But Only for Tests)

It’s pronounced nuh-MAH-niks.

Remember that humans are not good at remembering lists of words, rules, and translations.

But, we are good at remembering things when we’re connected to them… Especially if we’re connected with strong emotions.

Think about your favorite song…

Do you know all the words to it?

If you do, it’s mostly likely NOT because you looked at the lyrics and memorized them. It’s because you have an emotional connection to it.

Mnemonics help you create connections in your mind.

You can do this with:

  • Images
  • Stories
  • Songs

The idea is to connect what you want to memorize with what you already know.

Here’s an example:

I wanted to remember a Japanese woman’s name that I kept forgetting. Her name was SAWA.

I found it sounded like the English word SOUR, so I visualized her biting into a lemon.

I connected the new word to one I already knew and a mental image. Helping me to remember her name.

Mnemonics are great for when you have time to think, like when you’re writing. So they are helpful for passing tests.

But communication is dynamic, and requires you to respond intuitively and quickly.

So here’s how to speak English fluently, when you don’t have time to think.

4. Learn a Word’s Story (Not Its Translation)

Stories have been used to pass down knowledge since our ancestors were painting on cave walls and grunting around a campfire!

In ancient Greece, they were used to teach people about honor, greed, and the consequences of their actions through the tales of their gods.

They’re powerful because they capture our attention, paint vivid pictures in our minds, and connect us.

Stories are a tool, like a large mnemonic, that you can use to improve your memorization.

This is especially true with English idioms. Each one has a little story behind it that will help you remember how to use them.

ketchup

Here’s the Story of the Word “Ketchup”

Ketchup originates from the Chinese word “kê-chiap,” which was a sauce made from fermented fish.

This Chinese sauce was introduced to the Western world by early European traders and explorers.

The British version of ketchup was made from mushrooms, walnuts, and anchovies.

Then in the 18th century, the sauce gained popularity in America.

Eventually, tomato-based ketchup became the most common type.

5. Use the 80/20 Principle

It’s also called the Pareto Principle. It states that roughly 80% of your results come from 20% of your activities.

Let’s apply it to learning new vocabulary.

This principle tells us that roughly 20% of English words account for 80% of what we use in daily conversations.

The word “the” by itself is about 7% of all printed text!

So, let’s narrow down your focus.

You don’t have to learn EVERY word in the English language.

Instead, think about your:

  • Interests
  • Needs
  • Goals

If you identify what the most important vocabulary for you is — and prioritize learning it — you’ll feel more prepared for conversations.

Even with Business English, knowing basic English will help you communicate more effectively than technical terms.

6. Practice Your Pronunciation With Frederick

Learning each letter’s sounds, and how they all work together, forms a strong and memorable connection in your mind between words and sounds.

This is the same way native speakers learn to read, spell, and pronounce English correctly.

If you’re not sure where to start, I created a reading, speaking, and listening app called Frederick to help you memorize the sound rules of English.

It uses animations, images, and games to make practicing more fun and memorable.

Frederick app
Frederick app

7. Review Regularly

The best way to improve your memorization is by continuously listening to different native speakers, talking about the same topic.

I call this powerful practice Naturally Varied Review.

You’ll gain DEPTH in words and phrases, and your ability to use your vocabulary will improve.

You can do this on your own by:

  1. Picking a topic (that interests you)
  2. Finding three or more English YouTube videos that are made for native speakers
  3. Actively listening to the vocabulary and phrases

Stop Memorizing Vocabulary if You Want to Get Fluent!

The above methods are the best ways you can improve your memorization and speak more fluently.

They’re based on how native speakers learn English, which means they’re the best ways for you to learn too.

However, if you’re ready to fast-track your path to English fluency by getting expert guidance, consider signing up for our English fluency course.

It’s the ONLY course that teaches you English as a first language. This means you’ll improve your speaking ability with real speech, visual examples and stories about topics that interest you.

There are no word lists, translations, or grammar rules. Just one path to guaranteed fluency.

Other English Language Learning Articles You May Be Interested In:

120 Common English Phrases (And When to Use Them)

Advanced English Listening Practice – Conversational American English