Master Difficult Vocabulary with Mnemonics: A Proven Memory Hack
Ever come across a vocabulary word so tricky that no matter how many times you look it up, it just doesn’t stick? You’re not alone! Learning difficult words can feel overwhelming, but there’s a proven tool that you might not be using yet: mnemonics.
Mnemonics are connections between memorable things, like an image, a place, or a pattern, and the thing you want to remember. Did you learn “ROY G BIV,” “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” (or PEMDAS, or BEDMAS), “‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’?” Do you know any facts or series set to song, like the alphabet? I only know the English ones, unfortunately, but if you grew up speaking another language, I would love to know the mnemonics you grew up with. Leave a comment and share!
Let’s dive into how mnemonics can revolutionize your vocabulary-building game and take inspiration from the story of Joshua Foer, who used memory techniques to achieve amazing feats.
Journalist to Memory Champion
Joshua Foer became fascinated by memory techniques while covering the U.S. Memory Championship. He started by asking competitors when they knew that they had such an incredible memory. His interviewees clarified that, no— they didn’t have superhuman memories. They use mnemonics: to turn abstract information into vivid, memorable images.
Foer decided to learn to use mnemonics himself. A year later, he won the competition, and even set a record in one of the events!
Mnemonics are powerful, but they are easy to master. They are also a fun, creative exericse! And they can help you conquer even the most challenging vocabulary words.
How Mnemonics Work for Vocabulary
The brain loves stories, images, and connections. When you turn a difficult word into something meaningful or silly or sexy or gory, it becomes much easier to remember. Here’s how you can use mnemonics to help you learn vocabulary words, step by step:
1. Break Down the Word
Look for parts of the word that remind you of something familiar. For example:
Ubiquitous (adj.): Present everywhere at once.
Mnemonic: Imagine Ubi the penguin is so popular that he’s everywhere—at the park, on TV, even in your kitchen! A really detailed image of him in your kitchen, standing on a ladder, trying to get a bowl down from a high shelf can help you remember the word “ubiquitous.”
Obfuscate (v.): To make something unclear or difficult to understand.
Mnemonic: Picture someone fussing (obFUScate) so much over a problem that they confuse everyone around them. Picture them crumpling up balls of paper and throwing them all over the room, hitting people on the head, hiding someone’s keys, and creating a pile so big people can’t see around it.
2. Create a Vivid Mental Image
The weirder or funnier, the better!
Belligerent (adj.): Hostile or aggressive.
Mnemonic: Picture a bell angrily ringing itself because someone is being rude. It’s literally belligerent!
Ebullient (adj.): Cheerful and full of energy.
Mnemonic: Imagine a boiling pot of water (ebullient sounds like “boiling”) that’s bubbling with excitement because it’s so happy.
3. Connect the Word to a Story
Turn the word into a mini story to give it context.
Parsimonious (adj.): Frugal or stingy.
Mnemonic: Imagine Mr. Parsi, who refuses to spend money even on basic groceries. He’s so stingy, he cuts his toothpaste tube in half to scrape out every last bit!
Ephemeral (adj.): Lasting a very short time.
Mnemonic: Picture an ephemeral butterfly that lives only for one day.
4. Use Word Associations
Find words that sound similar or rhyme.
Esoteric (adj.): Known by a small, specialized group.
Mnemonic: Think of “Esoteric” as “so terrific” because only a select few can understand why it’s so great.
Sycophant (n.): Someone who flatters others to gain favor.
Mnemonic: A sick elephant (sycophant) is always sucking up to the zoo keeper for more peanuts.
5. Practice Your Mnemonics
Once you’ve created a mnemonic, practice it! Use flashcards, say it out loud, or write a sentence with the word. If you can, draw a picture of you menomic. Mnemonics work best when you revisit them regularly.
Why Mnemonics Work
Mnemonic devices tap into your brain’s natural ability to remember vivid, emotional, or absurd images better than abstract concepts. When paired with consistent practice, they make vocabulary words easier to recall—and more fun to learn.
Counterintuitively, it is more important that your image is memorable than that it well represents the word or makes sense. Make your image detailed, and spend some time with it when you are first imagining it.
Ready to Start?
Next time you encounter a tough word, don’t just write it down—transform it. Whether it’s through a silly story, a vivid image, or a quirky association, mnemonics will help you remember it for good.