Tips for Learning New Words and Expressions in Spanish

Did you know that, according to the RAE (Real Academia Española), the Spanish language comprises over 93,000 registered words? As a Spanish student, you don't need to learn them all to succeed in this beautiful language. Don't worry! A positive fact is that, despite 93,000 seeming like a large number, other languages like Arabic and Russian easily surpass and even triple the number of words that Spanish has. Phew! What a relief!

When it comes to learning new words and expressions, there really isn't a magic formula or secret. At the end of the day, just like any other activity that involves developing a skill, discipline, practice, consistency, and of course, passion will be the pillars that help you expand your Spanish vocabulary. However, there are some tricks we can use to make learning new words and expressions in Spanish a piece of cake.

Keep reading and take advantage of all our tips for Spanish vocabulary.

General Tips

• Focus on Specific Sections 

This first recommendation is aimed at sectional learning, meaning focusing on a specific topic, breaking down each related word, and learning its meaning until you achieve a general mastery. By applying this tip, you can deepen your understanding of one area at a time, allowing your brain to connect all the words within a single context. This way, you avoid typical confusions from mixing words of completely different topics, like kitchen objects and computing terms.

• Immerse Yourself in the Language 

If you truly plan to expand your Spanish vocabulary, you must ensure that this language is present in everything around you. For instance, instead of watching movies and series in your native language, replace them with some in Spanish. Apply the same for music and books. Even setting the language of your cell phone, tablet, desktop computer, and laptop to Spanish would be a good way to keep yourself in constant learning. Definitely, this is one of those good practices for learning Spanish.

• Write Down What You Learn 

Undoubtedly, one of the factors that most affect our ability to learn new things is our memorization ability. Memory plays a fundamental role when learning a new language, and although we would like to remember everything just by reading, the reality is that sometimes we need to reinforce our learning through other techniques, such as writing. It has been proven that students who write by hand retain information for much longer and learn better. Now you know, when you're learning new phrases and words in Spanish, don't just repeat them. Write them down!

• Create Visual Flashcards 

This is probably one of the most interesting and fun techniques you could take advantage of from our Spanish vocabulary tips. It involves creating small cards that have the names of objects around you written on them, with the goal of sticking them to these objects so that every time you pass by, you can read the cards and reinforce the words you wrote. By applying this technique, you will not only be learning through repetition but also taking advantage of your visual learning capabilities.

• Give Context to New Words 

Adding context to words is another one of those good practices for learning Spanish that you cannot overlook. Usually, when we encounter a word we don't know, we think that just by reading it and finding out its meaning, it will stick in our memory. But as mentioned earlier, sometimes this technique alone is not enough. For example, it will not have the same effect to just find out the meaning of the word "correct" as it would to use it in a contextual sentence: "I wrote the answer wrong, and I had to correct it at the last minute." Now you know, give context!

• Maximize Your Auditory and Visual Memory 

Pay special attention to this point; it will be one of the best tips for Spanish vocabulary that we can give you. As we mentioned a few paragraphs above, when looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary, you must maximize all your memorization capabilities, including visual and auditory memory. The recommendation is that when learning a new word, don't just read it; say it out loud several times while imagining the object or context that the word identifies. This way, your brain will associate the words with an image and a sound, giving you a higher chance of remembering the words for much longer.

• Visualize Moving Images 

Visualizing a moving image while learning a new word is another good way to ensure more effective information retention. Our brain tends to pay more attention to moving images compared to static ones. Once we understand this, we can take advantage of it and start visualizing moving images with each word we learn. For example, if we are trying to memorize the word "Eagle," it is preferable to visualize an eagle flying rather than one at rest.

Colloquial Language: Idiomatic Expressions 

Now that we have mentioned all these Spanish vocabulary tips that will improve our ability to memorize and learn new words, we can ask ourselves the following question: Can I apply these recommendations to learn other things like idiomatic expressions? The answer is yes!

Idiomatic expressions require an extra level of effort since, unlike words, these expressions already have a context and when translated literally, they can be a bit difficult to interpret due to their characteristic lack of logic. But don't worry, if you apply the memorization technique by writing that we mentioned earlier, the learning through stimulating auditory and visual memory, and of course, start integrating Spanish into all your daily activities, learning idiomatic expressions will be a piece of cake for you.

Next, we will provide some tips that will help you learn and remember the famous Spanish idiomatic expressions better:

Tips for Learning Idiomatic Expressions

• Travel 

If you truly want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Spanish language, traveling frequently to Spanish-speaking countries is one of those good practices for learning Spanish that you shouldn't ignore. If you've had the opportunity to visit any of these countries, you've likely noticed that native speakers have made idiomatic expressions their daily bread. Just imagine walking through the streets of countries like Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, or Venezuela and realizing that idiomatic expressions are heard everywhere. How wonderful!

• Learn from others' experiences 

Although traveling to Spanish-speaking countries can be one of the best ways to learn Spanish, not everyone can afford such a trip. If that's your case, don't worry. Something you can do is ask your friends and family who have been to one or more Spanish-speaking countries to share their experiences. Tell them about your passion for Spanish and ask them to teach you the idiomatic expressions they remember most from the countries they visited. You'll surely end up adding a few extra expressions to your collection.

• Visualize yourself in the situation 

When it comes to tips for Spanish vocabulary, this is one of the best. Whenever you're learning something new, whether it's a word or an idiomatic expression, after fully understanding its meaning, do the exercise of imagining yourself living the real situation that the expression describes. For example, if you're learning the expression "Costar un ojo de la cara" (to cost an arm and a leg), you could imagine having a conversation with a friend who's about to buy a brand-name coat that's very expensive and say, "Think it over, that coat will cost you an arm and a leg." By creating personal scenarios, you'll increase the chances of memorizing your expressions and words.

• Join online forums 

One of the best experiences when learning Spanish is being able to interact with people who also share your passion for this beautiful language. Consider joining groups or online forums where there are native Spanish speakers. It doesn't have to be a group dedicated exclusively to learning Spanish; it could be an online forum about sports, music, or any topic that interests you. Just make sure there are native speakers who interact regularly. You're sure to learn a few new words and expressions that will expand your Spanish vocabulary.

• Put into practice what you've learned 

Finally, and although it may sound cliché, we want to emphasize the importance of putting everything you learn into practice. Remember, what you don't practice, you forget. There are many ways to keep your knowledge up to date: make Spanish-speaking friends with whom you can converse regularly, start incorporating Spanish into the music you listen to, the movies you watch, and the books you read. Or simply share what you've learned with close people like your family, friends, and partner. This way, you'll constantly reinforce and refresh your knowledge.

In conclusion, learning and memorizing so many words and expressions can be a bit exhausting, but when it comes to languages as rich and interesting as Spanish, every effort will be worth it. We hope you found our tips for learning and memorizing new words and expressions useful. Remember to be patient, practice a lot, and, above all, enjoy every stage of your journey as a Spanish learner.

See you next time!