Asked • 06/19/19

How can I increase my Englishg vocabulary

I am frustrated because my vocabulary in my native language is so much richer than it is in English.


How can I increase my English vocabulary?

David R.

tutor
Assuming you live in an area where English is the main language, you should have easy access to English movies, TV, books, music and more. Immersion will help you pick up on vocabulary subconsciously; audio-visual media will also clue you into pronunciation. One activity I’ve seen done is writing out a basic word (red, for example) and then looking up synonyms (crimson, scarlet...) which should help you with building vocabulary, and in some cases idioms (natural word pairings). Wikipedia has a simple English version which could also help.
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06/23/19

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Suzie S. answered • 06/19/19

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High School and College English Teacher, Writer, Speech Specialist 20+
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AH! There are so many ways to increase your vocabulary - both in understanding and usage.


A few include:


Keep a log/list of words you don't know, look them up, record the definition - then! USE that word!


*Using words/ phrases puts them into your memory banks.



Read, read, read - then Use the words you like.


Discover the wonders of the thesaurus. If you always use the same word, go to a thesaurus and find alternative words and then USE them.


Find a word that you like, but maybe don't use, and challenge yourself to USE that word three times a day for the next few days.



Are you seeing a pattern? USE a new word to make it yours, to own it.


These tips should get you started.





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