❌ Why Vocabulary Lists Don’t Work
Have you ever crammed a vocabulary list of 1,000 words, only to forget most of them a few months later?
- You memorize today, but three months later they’re gone.
- After the test, it feels like starting all over again.
- You end up frustrated, thinking “Why is my memory so bad?”
But it’s not your fault—it’s how the brain works.
Your brain automatically discards any information it doesn’t encounter again within about three months.
In other words, if a word doesn’t reappear soon, your brain labels it as “not important” and deletes it.
✅ So, Which Words Are Worth Memorizing?
The answer is simple:
Only memorize the words you’ll actually see again.
In English, these are high-frequency, core vocabulary that appear everywhere:
in news articles, TV shows, books, emails, and conversations.
On the other hand, forcing yourself to memorize rare words that you won’t meet for months is a waste of effort—they’ll vanish from memory anyway.
🎯 Words Worth Learning: “Out of Courtesy”
So, which words deserve your attention?
- Words you’ve seen two or more times in books, news, or movies
- Words that keep appearing in your field of interest or work
- Words with real-life usage in conversation, writing, or reports
These words are like “friends you’ll definitely meet again.”
Memorizing them is worth the courtesy—they’ll return, and every time they do, they’ll stick more deeply.
🛠 What Matters More Than Memorizing
- Read and listen a lot
- The more input you get, the more naturally recurring words you’ll meet.
- Look it up when needed, then move on
- Don’t obsessively memorize every unknown word; add it to your list only if it reappears.
- Learn word chunks, not isolated words
- Instead of just take, memorize take care of, take advantage of, etc.
- Use the word within 3 months
- Don’t just review—use it in writing or speaking so it transfers to long-term memory.
🧘♀️ Words Need “Natural Encounters”
Crammed words disappear after exams,
but words you meet repeatedly in different contexts naturally stay in your mind.
If you won’t see a word again within three months,
you don’t need to force yourself to memorize it.
Instead, focus on core words you’ll encounter repeatedly,
and let the rest settle naturally through reading and listening.
💡 Conclusion: Vocabulary Is About Repetition, Not Quantity
Don’t try to memorize every single word.
- Words you’ll never see again are not worth your energy.
- Words you’ll meet again deserve your time—they’ll repay you when you see them in context.
Building vocabulary is not about how many words you cram but
how many words you meet again and again.