If you rely solely on memory to learn English vocabulary, you’re already losing the game! So, how can we make memorizing words more efficient? Here are some simple and practical methods that have worked for me and might help you too, as I’ve discovered throughout my English learning journey.
1. Change Your Method – Use Mobile Apps to Learn Words
I used to memorize words purely by repeating and writing them down. It was a boring and ineffective method—I would quickly forget what I had learned. Now, I prefer using vocabulary apps to build my word bank, and I find them quite effective.
Here are a few vocabulary apps I personally use and recommend:
Duolingo
Baicizhan
Toki
Shanbay
Happy Word Field
These apps are quite popular and user-friendly. I used to download many apps, but gradually narrowed them down to just these few that truly work for me.
2. Learn Words Through Collocations
One powerful way to increase your vocabulary is to memorize word combinations. This not only helps you remember words but also teaches you common expressions. For example:
Chinese cabbage
Puppy love
Bitter tears
Heavy rain
These are all adjective + noun structures.
I also recommend a useful vocabulary learning platform:
👉 [http://www.hiknow.com/sessionhall.html?uid=sophie](http://www.hiknow.com/sessionhall.html?uid=sophie) (Free after registration)
It offers a wide range of vocabulary lessons and beginner-friendly pronunciation classes taught by native speakers.
3. Learn Words Through Pronunciation Rules
Understand the relationship between phonetics and spelling. Read and write while learning how sounds match with specific letters. This engages your ears, mouth, eyes, and hands, improving retention through multisensory learning.
English pronunciation follows patterns. For instance:
ph is often pronounced as /f/
h is silent at the beginning of some words
Learning phonics rules before memorizing words will greatly improve your efficiency.
4. Understand Word “Radicals” – Roots and Affixes
Just like Chinese characters have radicals, English words have roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
The root gives the core meaning.
The prefix or suffix modifies the meaning or indicates the word’s part of speech.
Although this method requires some existing vocabulary knowledge, it eventually makes understanding new words much easier. Once you build a solid base, you'll discover how powerful this approach is.
5. Smart Use of Memorization Sequences
Try memorizing words in different sequences:
Forward order for the first round
Reverse order for the second
Random order for the third
This strengthens recall and forms more connections in your brain. You can even group words by topic or scenario—for example, words you’d use at the airport, on the subway, or in a restaurant.
6. Read Books and News Articles
Reading is one of the best ways to learn vocabulary. When you encounter a new word in context, try to infer its meaning from the sentence or look it up. After seeing it a few times, you’ll naturally remember it and know how to use it correctly.
Try to read books or articles you've never read before—familiar stories won't engage you as much.
For news, you can check out websites like BuzzFeed News for modern, real-world vocabulary.
7. Review Words with Focus and Strategy
When reviewing vocabulary, don’t start from scratch every time.
First, skim through the words you already know and mark them off.
Then focus on unfamiliar ones.
During the next review, only go over the words you still don’t remember.
This targeted approach greatly improves efficiency and helps you make better use of your time.
Final Thoughts
If you want to improve your English vocabulary, memorizing words is unavoidable! Without a solid word bank, speaking fluent English is nearly impossible. The methods above cover most of the major approaches. Give them a try and see what works best for you!
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