How To Increase and Learn Spanish Vocabulary

In communication, the more words you know, the more successful you can send your message across. The usual question, however, is how to increase the number of words you know. Building vocabulary often concerns Spanish learners, so they try to do a lot of tricks, but to no avail. There would of course be additions to their list, but they often forget them as soon as they learn a new word. What is to do then? Is there an effective way to increase and learn Spanish vocabulary?

The truth is, building vocabulary is not an easy task, but there are certainly ways to get around the words and stick them to your mind for your future use. Here’s how:

1. Read Spanish newspapers, magazines, and literature. Take note how the words are used to get the meaning. There would be times when you can’t seem to yank the definition out of the context or usage, which is why it helps to have a Spanish-English dictionary. Consulting a dictionary every so often, however, is somewhat daunting and takes the pleasure out of the reading activity, but doing so can undoubtedly enrich your vocabulary fast. Just a note: for vocabulary-building purposes, stay clear of textbooks. Newspapers, magazines, and books provide wider windows to everyday Spanish vocabulary and usage. 

2. Use the words. What’s the use of 50 new words if you forever bank them in your mind? Many Spanish learners use new words three to ten times within the day and find it very helpful. So, try to do the same. Practice using them in sentences. Incorporate them in your conversations. Of course, some words might be out of place, but if the person you speak to knows you are learning to speak Spanish, he will most likely assume you are practicing. And he would certainly not think your nuts. The thing is, have the guts to practice what you have learned. Otherwise, they will rot in your mind and would soon be forgotten.

3. Engage in conversations. Have a person, a partner more appropriately, to speak with. He can be a fellow learner, a Spanish-speaking friend, or a tutor. Never pass a day without speaking to someone in Spanish. If you have an overseas Spanish-speaking friend, engage him in a correspondence or email exchange. Writing is also as effective as speaking in improving your vocabulary. 

4. Avoid being caught up in the I-am-building-my-vocabulary mania and forget the reason you are learning to speak Spanish. The danger here is you tend to cram in your brain more words than you can actually manage, some of which you really have no use for, leaving little space for the words you particularly need. To make your efforts to learn Spanish vocabulary more orderly, prioritize and collect first the words that correspond to your purpose for learning. In other words, if you are learning Spanish to fit into an academic job, learn the Spanish words for school, research, student body, and the likes.