Learn Vocabulary

We recommend five things for learning English vocabulary:

1. Context and Exposure




See or hear the vocabulary used in context 

Sample contexts:  reading material, audio, video, conversation

Sometimes you can guess meaning from the situation.

What type of word is it (noun, verb, adjective)?

Look at the words around it.

Try to read or listen to as much English as possible

Choose from a variety of sources

     


2. Pictures and associations

Sometimes seeing groups of related words can help

See our picture dictionary.




3. Understand Word Parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots)

See our word parts lists here.




4. Recognize collocations (words that go together)


Some words are commonly used with other words

See our lists of collocations: with verbs, with prepositions.





5. Consider connotations and multiple meanings of words

Some words carry special or emotional meanings

Example:  house vs. home

Some words can have many different meanings

Example:  play, set, run