Expanding your French vocabulary is one of the most important—and often most challenging—aspects of learning the language. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for advanced fluency, remembering thousands of words and expressions requires more than memorisation. The good news? Research shows that combining multiple study techniques dramatically improves retention.
In this article, we’ll explore the most effective strategies for building a strong French vocabulary, including flashcard apps, interactive exercises, and contextual reading, along with how platforms like ExploreFrench can support your learning.
Why Vocabulary Is So Easy to Forget
Vocabulary is notorious for slipping away if not reinforced. According to Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve (1885), learners forget up to 80% of new information within a week without regular review. This is why cramming doesn’t work long-term and why many learners feel like they’re constantly relearning the same words.
To overcome this, scientists recommend spaced repetition—reviewing words at gradually increasing intervals. Flashcard apps like Anki and Memrise are built on this principle, and numerous studies (such as Cepeda et al., 2006) confirm that spaced repetition is one of the most reliable methods for committing vocabulary to long-term memory.
But spaced repetition alone isn’t enough. For lasting results, words need to be reviewed in different formats and contexts, keeping the brain actively engaged.
The Power of Combining Methods
Research in language learning consistently supports the idea that variety strengthens memory. According to Paivio’s Dual Coding Theory (1991), combining visual, auditory, and contextual input makes words easier to remember. In other words, seeing a word on a flashcard, hearing it in an audio clip, and using it in a sentence create stronger mental connections than relying on one method alone.
So, what does an effective vocabulary study routine look like? The most successful learners typically combine:
- Spaced repetition using flashcard apps.
- Interactive activities like vocabulary games.
- Contextual reading and listening, where words appear naturally in use.
- Writing and speaking practice to activate vocabulary in communication.
How to Build a Complete Vocabulary Learning Routine
Here’s a sample routine that integrates multiple approaches:
Step 1: Discover New Words
Start by exploring vocabulary through a structured resource. For example, ExploreFrench’s vocabulary modules provide bilingual French-English vocabulary lists across 150+ topics and levels from A1 to C2. Each word comes with audio pronunciation and gender color-coding, helping you learn essential vocabulary alongside correct pronunciation and grammatical gender.
Step 2: Reinforce with Games
Repetition doesn’t have to mean boredom. Interactive games like matching exercises, fill-in-the-blank activities, and listening challenges make review enjoyable while promoting deeper learning. ExploreFrench, for example, offers over 600 vocabulary games designed to strengthen recall while keeping your studies fun.
Step 3: Transfer Key Words into Flashcards
Once you’ve identified words you want to remember long-term, adding them to a spaced repetition system (SRS) like Anki or Memrise is an excellent way to schedule reviews. You can create custom decks using the words from your modules, ensuring you revisit them just before you’re likely to forget.
Step 4: See and Hear the Words in Context
Memorisation is helpful, but seeing how words are used naturally makes them stick. Regularly reading graded readers, listening to podcasts, and using audiobooks exposes you to vocabulary in action. This reinforces meaning, shows you how words connect in sentences, and helps you internalise grammar patterns at the same time.
Many learners combine vocabulary modules with real content, such as:
- Short stories and graded readers.
- Authentic audiobooks.
- Podcasts with transcripts.
By hearing the same words appear across different formats, you give your brain multiple chances to notice, review, and lock in new vocabulary.
Why Mixing Methods Works
The science behind vocabulary acquisition is clear: learning is stronger when it’s active, varied, and spaced out over time. When you combine the strengths of different methods, such as:
- Flashcards for regular review.
- Games for active recall.
- Listening and reading for contextual understanding.
- Speaking and writing for output practice.
…you create a complete system that makes forgetting less likely and fluency more achievable.
Conclusion
There’s no single best way to learn French vocabulary. The most effective approach is a blended strategy that brings together spaced repetition, interactive practice, and meaningful context. Resources like Anki, Memrise, and ExploreFrench’s Word Builder each play an important role in keeping your learning varied, effective, and enjoyable.
Instead of endlessly reviewing word lists, aim to create a rich learning environment where vocabulary appears in many forms—on flashcards, in games, through audio, and in the real-life stories of the French-speaking world. The more ways you experience new words, the better they’ll stick, and the sooner you’ll find yourself using them with ease.