Your top tips for remembering words
We all have our little ways of remember new vocabulary. For example, I've just been giggling, becausre Norte in Spanish sounds like naughty in English!
What are your favourite tricks for remembering words?
15 Answers
Always learn words in related pairs.
EG
Nurse - doctor
Black - white
Ugly - beautiful
and try to form a sentence that creates a picture in your mind.
EG
My doctor was black and my nurse was white.
Mi médico era negro y mi enfermera era blanco.
Visualization while learning the words.
Red - rojo
Putting tags on common items in the house.
Flashcards, and finding cognates.
And if a word is really bugging me, writing it on my hand for a day.
This has the added bonus of Spanish speakers sometimes noticing it, and then starting up a conversation, which is more practice. Not often, but it´s happened a half dozen times.
Using them as much as possible in actual conversation.
If I can't actually use them with a real person, then I make up sentences and conversations and talk to myself. This works way better for me than any attempt to memorize them with flashcards.
I write them down on a blackboard where they are easily visible to me even when I'm doing other things. It helps a lot.
When I took Spanish at a public highschool, we would come up will silly/dumb things to help us remember verbs and vocab.
Examples:
Colgar- hanging up your Colgate (toothpaste) Buscar- To look for your bus/car...
Now I just make flashcards...
LOTS AND LOTS of flashcards. virtual and paper. They help alot
Ok, this morning our electricity went off today for two hours. I was all prepared to ask the across-the-street neighbors, "¿Tienes energía eléctrica?" 
but they never came outside while I was outside. During the power outage, I made post-it notes for around the house (since I can't do the lessons on my phone). For me, the thing that works best is repetition, repetition, repetition.
I can remember of the words anyway, but this way I can at least remember if they're masculine or feminine by saying them aloud each time I pass. For the bedrooms I put 'el dormitorio a la derecha' and 'a la izquierda' since I have a hard time (so far) remembering the Spanish words for directions.
Something to think about:
Everyone has a different learning style.
There are three different learning styles:
1) Visual Learner
2) Audio Learner
3) Kinesthetic or Tactile Learner
What works for one does not always work for another.
Top tips for remembering words
"Don't Drink and Dictate"
Oh?
You all do that when you learn a new word in English, too?
If you don't, then ask me in Skype how to ease up this problem in Spanish. 
What I have been doing is practicing with my children. When I tell them something, I will use the Spanish words I have learned in a sentence. I say the word or phrase in English after that. They look at me like I'm crazy, but my eight-year-old is starting to understand. When he was young and I was dressing him, I would say each article of clothing in Spanish and English. It helps me reinforce the new words I learn on this site each day.
Repitition is the key to remembering for me. When i encounter a new word I say it over and over at least 10 times and then will repeat an hour later. I also try to think of other sentences using that word. That usually works for me.
acronyms or putting words into song.
I have been told that my comments seem to be belittling.
Far from being my intention, I say things that hopefully will encourage people to think and try to get from their own resources in their native language.
I guess it's the difference of why people see their glass full or half, however, being in a forum, and mostly with adults, I encourage people to ask.
I certainly thank the person who approached me to tell me this, so that I have a chance to say or do something.
I've been doing this long enough and I am old enough to get offended by anything that can be said online. If anything, I will ask, before getting mad or leaving the forum or not talking to "certain" people. I know it is hopeless and to top it off, I want to help.
when a new word i learn in spansh i try to use it (speaking) with natives! making a story with a recent several words you have learned would be a good way too! good luck
