A Three-Step Method for Memorizing Vocabulary
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that this technique is inspired by DanteGaxiola’s visual dictionary method for abstract words, which I adapted and expanded for language learning:
Memory techniques can genuinely help you memorize tens of thousands of pieces of information. But when it comes to language learning, there’s one thing most methods ignore: pronunciation. My method solves this.
Step One: Build a Visual Language for Abstract Concepts
Some words are concrete — apple, car, dog. You can already picture them. But what about happiness, success, freedom? How do you visualize those?
This is where you start — before learning a single word in your target language.
You assign a fixed image to each abstract concept. For example: a yellow sun for happiness, a trophy for success, an open birdcage for freedom. These become your personal visual language. You build them once and use them forever.
One critical rule: every image must be sharply different from the others. If you use a yellow sun, a golden star and a bright ball for different concepts, you will eventually confuse them. Ask yourself: “When I see this image, does it point to one concept and one concept only?” If yes, it’s safe. If not, change it.
Step Two: Connect Every Word to Its Pronunciation
Now comes the actual memorization. When you encounter a new word, you look at how it’s pronounced. Then you find something in your native language — or English — that sounds similar. Finally, you connect that sound to the meaning through a vivid scene.
Here’s a concrete example with a Spanish word:
The word “mariposa” means butterfly. It’s pronounced “mah-ree-POH-sah” — which sounds like “marry a posa” (someone posing for a photo).
So imagine: a man nervously marrying a giant butterfly that keeps posing for wedding photos, wings fully spread, showing off its colors.
When you hear “mariposa” your brain goes:
marry + posing → butterfly
Now here’s an abstract example:
The word “añoranza” means longing — that deep ache for something or someone you’ve lost. It’s pronounced “an-yo-RAN-za” — which sounds like “Anno ran away.”
First, you need your pre-built image for longing. Let’s say it’s an old faded photograph.
Now the scene: Anno, a sad old man, ran away into a foggy distance, and you’re left holding his old faded photograph, desperately wanting him back.
When you hear “añoranza” your brain goes:
Anno ran away → old faded photograph → longing
Notice the difference. With concrete words you need one scene. With abstract words you always need that pre-built image as a bridge — which is exactly why Step One matters so much.
The more bizarre, emotional and moving your scene is, the longer it stays. Don’t create a static picture. Create a movie scene.
Step Three: Review With Anki
Add every word you learn to Anki, a free spaced repetition app. Anki shows you each word at scientifically calculated intervals. When a word appears, you simply check whether the image fires in your mind or not. If it does, the word moves deeper into long-term memory. If it doesn’t, Anki shows it more frequently until it sticks.
Just 5 to 10 minutes a day is enough to maintain thousands of words.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of this method is that you’re not just memorizing for reading. Because your memory hooks are built on pronunciation, you recognize words when you hear them and when you speak. The language enters through your ears, not just your eyes.
The first 500 words will feel slow. You’re building the system while using it. But once your abstract visual library is established and your brain gets used to generating scenes quickly, your speed increases significantly.
At 20 to 30 words per day, reaching 10.000 words in under a year is entirely realistic — and those will be words you actually remember.
