Tips for learning Spanish vocabulary

The game puts words in front of you, but what you do with them makes the difference. Here are some simple habits that help Spanish vocabulary stick.

Write down every word you find

Keep a notebook or a notes app next to you while you play. Every time you collect a card, write the word in both languages: the Spanish word on one side and the English meaning on the other. Writing slows you down just enough for your brain to notice the spelling, the accent marks, and the shape of the word. At the end of a session you will have a personal word list made from the words you actually met.

You can make it even more useful by adding a short sentence of your own, or a tiny drawing, next to each word.

Learn nouns with their article

Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine, and the game shows the article with each word: el for masculine and la for feminine. Write the article down with the noun every time, so you learn the gender together with the word instead of trying to memorize it later.

Notice the infinitive verbs

Verbs in the game appear in the infinitive, the “to ___” form, such as caminar (to walk) or decidir (to decide). Most infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir. When you write a verb down, note the ending, because it tells you how the verb will change when you start using it in sentences.

Say the word out loud

Speak each word as you collect it. Hearing yourself say it connects the written word to the sound, and it gets you ready to use it in real conversation.

Cover one column and quiz yourself

After a play session, fold your page or cover one column of your list. Look at the English and try to recall the Spanish, then flip it and try the other direction. Checking yourself in both directions is one of the simplest and most effective ways to review.

Play a little, often

Short, regular sessions usually work better than one long one. Ten or fifteen minutes a few times a week, followed by a quick review of your notes, helps words move from “I’ve seen this” to “I know this.” Go back to words from earlier sessions instead of only learning new ones.

Group words by theme

Sort the words you collect into groups such as verbs, places, objects, and people. Connected words are easier to remember than a random pile, and grouping makes it easier to build your own sentences.

Use the words in sentences

Try to write or say one simple sentence with every few words you learn. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Using a word, even clumsily, locks it in better than only recognizing it.

Check your list any time

If you forget a word or want to see what you have coming, the full vocabulary list shows all 1,000 words in alphabetical order with their English meanings.

Build a review routine

New words fade quickly unless you meet them again, so plan your reviews. A simple pattern is to look at your list the same day you learn the words, again the next day, and then again after a few days and after a week. Each time you recall a word without peeking, the memory gets stronger, and each time you struggle, you learn which words need more attention. Mark the words that keep slipping away and give them extra time, instead of treating every word as equal.

Connect words to pictures and stories

The cards in the game pair each word with a picture, which is a real advantage. Before you read the English meaning, look at the image and try to recall the Spanish word. When a word will not stick, invent a small story or a silly image that links the sound of the Spanish word to its meaning. The stranger the link, the better it tends to work, and you only need it until the word feels familiar.

Learn word families

Many Spanish words come in families that share a root. Once you know trabajar (to work), the words trabajo (job or work) and trabajador (worker) become much easier. Likewise, lavar (to wash) leads to la lavandería (the laundromat) and el lavabo (the sink). Whenever you collect a new card, ask yourself whether you already know a word with the same root, and write the family down together.

Keep it fun

The point of the game is to make learning feel like exploring. Go at your own pace, explore somewhere new, and celebrate the words you’ve collected. Ready to play? Start the game or read how to play.