Here’s How to Remember New Hebrew Words

One of the biggest challenges you probably have as a Hebrew language learner is trying to remember all the Hebrew words that you’re learning. How do you keep track of all the new vocabulary?

When I decided to start studying Hebrew seriously, I did it all. I had Hebrew language notebooks and notepads, plus printed flashcards and flashcard apps. These are all good tools for writing down Hebrew words – although I don’t necessarily suggest using them all – but unless you just want to be a Hebrew writer, you’re going to need to go ahead and use those words.

And that, my dear readers, is my advice to you today.

The best way to remember Hebrew words is to use them.

I know that’s easier said than done, especially considering that Hebrew isn’t all that common. There are only about 7 million native Hebrew speakers, compared to 460 million native Spanish speakers, and 315 million native Arabic speakers, just for some examples. Unless you’re learning Hebrew with family members or dedicated friends, you may not have very many conversation practice partners. No worries – here are a couple of ways you can use your Hebrew words independently to help you acquire them.

Think Out Loud

My favorite way to help me remember new words is to think out loud. (FYI: This is exactly the same as talking to yourself, but call it whatever you need to in order to make you feel comfortable.) Use your new vocabulary that you’re learning to narrate activities, moods, literally anything that you can say with the Hebrew words you know, and the ones that you’re learning. Just finished a foods unit on Duolingo? Talk out loud while you menu plan, cook dinner, or open the fridge 12 times to see what’s in there. Is your Hebrew class learning to talk about your morning routines? Describe all of your actions from the moment you wake up, every day, until you’ve acquired the vocabulary.

It’s important to do all of this OUT LOUD. I mean, you can whisper if you have to, but the words need to come out of your mouth. It’s using the new Hebrew words – not just thinking them, or writing them down – that will help you remember them. If you can’t figure out how to naturally use your Hebrew vocabulary over the course of a day, get even more creative. Pretend you’re telling someone about the words you learned. If that feels weird, record a voice note in your phone and just ‘forget’ to sent it to anyone 🤷🏾‍♀️.

Create Sentences or Stories

Once you jot down new Hebrew words, don’t let the writing stop there. Rewriting them in sentences, or even better, putting them together to create a paragraph or story, is another good way to help you remember new Hebrew words. The writing doesn’t have to be in Hebrew script, or even in Hebrew letters if you’re not comfortable writing yet (or haven’t yet learned); write in Hebrish if you must. Once you’ve written your sentences or stories – you might already be able to guess what’s coming – read them aloud. As you learn new words, see if you can add them to the existing story or sentences (but you can always create new ones).

I started keeping a diary as part of my Hebrew studies, setting aside 10-15 minutes before bed each night to write about my day, or anything else. Not only did this help me use and thereby remember new Hebrew vocabulary, but it also helped me to pinpoint important words that I still needed to learn. With vocabulary, sometimes we can end up studying all kinds of words that aren’t all that relevant to our everyday lives or immediate needs. If you make it a point to write sentences, stories, journal entries, etc., you can focus on learning the most useful Hebrew words.

Pace Yourself

You want Hebrew learning to be manageable, so that you’ll be able to stay consistent, see your progress, and be encouraged. If you’re trying to learn tens of new Hebrew words a day, S T O P. You want to expose yourself to as much Hebrew as possible, but don’t try to learn all of the words at once. I would aim for 7-10 new Hebrew words or phrases a week (less is fine, so is more if you’re sure you can handle it).

Keep Your Words Visible

Keep new Hebrew words somewhere where you’ll see them often without making any effort. For instance, instead of keeping your your words in a notebook (or in addition to it), tape your Hebrew vocabulary list to your bathroom mirror, or post it on the fridge. As you’re washing your hands, or standing in the kitchen deciding what to snack on, quickly review your latest words or phrases. It’ll become easier and easier to remember new Hebrew words when they’re constantly visible.

You can also label objects in your home using sticky notes. You don’t need to spend a day note-papering your house – remember to pace yourself – but it can be an excellent way to help you remember themed vocabulary, like furniture, rooms in a house, or even dishes and clothing (you can label drawers or closet/pantry sections).

Just remember, the way to really acquire new Hebrew words – which is what we mean when we say we want to remember them – is to use them, USE THEM, USE THEM!