Vocabulary sticks through use and spacing — not through staring at longer lists.
Spaced repetition
Review words just as you're about to forget them. It's the single highest-leverage habit for vocabulary, and a simple app or flashcard system does the scheduling for you.
Learn words in context
A word inside a sentence you care about beats an isolated entry on a list. Context gives the word hooks to hang on, so it's easier to recall and to use.
Use cognates and word families
English shares thousands of Spanish-adjacent words, so you know more than you think. And one root often unlocks several relatives at once — learn the family, not just the member.
Frequency first, then use it
Learn the words you'll actually meet most, and put each new word to use quickly — in a sentence, out loud, in a message. Words move into memory when you do something with them.