(Vince's 2 main options to help you with your GRE prep are HERE.)

 

The Best Way To Learn GRE Vocabulary in 2024!

If you like my sanguine penguin, you'll love my GRE Vocabulary Cartoons app, which illustrates 1300+ GRE vocab flashcards and 161 root words. The funny cartoons and mnemonics will help you remember the words, and there's a spaced repetition algorithm to make your studying more efficient and effective.

Whether you're an international student or a native speaker, this app will easily help you learn and remember GRE words.

Download Vince's GRE Vocab Cartoons for iPhone / iOS here and download for Android here, or use the buttons below.

 

 

 

Rave Reviews

 

"Love it!!! Hilarious! I have tried 4 or 5 apps in the past but this app keeps my attention."

 

"As a Chinese native speaker, learning GRE vocabs has been challenging but this app made it so easy."

 

"This is a criminally underrated app for GRE prep. What sets this app apart are the outlandish stories and brilliant illustrations that accompany each word, which etches it on to your memory."

 

"I used the Magoosh App which was OK. The GRE Economist Vocab app was also decent. THE BEST ONE BY A LOT WAS the app by Vince Kotchian. It saved my vocabulary. It is so good that I would recommend you use it even after the GRE (the only GRE related app I have not deleted yet)."

 

"I could marry you... Ok I should probably wait till I take GRE and see my verbal score....but this is a godsend for someone who is a big visual learner."

 

(Above: Me reading 93 of the vocab cartoon flashcards.)

 

BTW, I post vocabulary cartoons on my Instagram (@GRE_vocab_cartoons) along with fun vocab quizzes each week! 

 

 

(Above: I've also made a few YouTube vocabulary cartoon shorts!)

 

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Below, you'll find my free e-book with everything I have to say about GRE vocabulary and how to learn it.

 

Vince's Complete Guide to Learning GRE Vocabulary

 

Introduction

 

So you need to take the GRE, and by now you know that the verbal section is riddled with vocabulary that even many native English speakers don’t know. 

 

Also, you’ve undoubtedly come across words that are more familiar but you’re just not sure of their exact definitions.

 

You’ve probably started to learn words, but you may be running into a few common issues:

 

1. You’re overwhelmed. There are so many words to learn, and not that much time.

2. You’re confused. There are so many different ways to learn vocab, from apps to flash cards to books. And with so many different GRE vocab lists out there, which one is best?

3. You’re studying words, but you often forget the ones you’ve studied… or some words stick and others don’t.

 

Fear not - most people I talk to have one or more of these issues. This guide is designed to help you overcome these problems and learn as many words as you possibly can in the time between now and your GRE test date.

 

Vince's Background

 

My name is Vince Kotchian, and I’ve been tutoring the GRE since 2008 here in sunny San Diego, California. I’ve gotten a perfect 170 on the verbal part of the test three times now, and I’ve co-authored a few GRE prep books and online courses. I also teach on Gregmat!

 

I was an English Literature major in college, and I’ve been an avid reader since about age 5. I love books, and I love words. Life is nuanced, if you haven’t noticed, and a nuanced vocabulary allows you to both understand others and to express yourself more clearly and compellingly - not to mention score higher on the GRE!

 

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of people study GRE vocab, and I’ve observed what works and what doesn’t work. This guide is my way of sharing what I’ve learned with you.

What you'll learn in this guide

 

Learning vocabulary will take effort, but it doesn’t have to be painful. I’m going to show you how to channel your studying energy in the most effective direction possible so you can make the most of the time you have. Here are a few things I’ll cover:

 

• The “why” behind learning vocabulary and an explanation of the principles we’ll use to learn words

• How to get started and determine which words you need to learn

• The most effective ways I’ve found to study those words

• How to use word roots to supplement your studying

• And finally, some final thoughts

 

Once you finish this guide, you’ll be able to learn new words more efficiently and effectively - a skill that will make a noticeable difference in your success with GRE verbal questions. Speaking of those, you might want to check out my complete GRE verbal course.

 

Sound good? Ok! Let’s get started.

 

How To learn GRE vocabulary

 

Let’s talk about a few principles of learning words.

 

Key #1: Repetition (but intelligent repetition)

 

I still remember my childhood best friend’s phone number, even though I haven’t called or thought of it in literally decades. But from age 9 through 16 or so, I probably called it 500 times.

 

But repetition without a system doesn’t work too well when you’re trying to learn 500 or 1000 different words. You don’t want to study every word every single day, since that would take forever.

 

The solution? Spaced repetition. 

 

 

(Above: I explain spaced repetition in the 2nd half of this short (2 min) video)

 

If you review a word too soon, your brain doesn’t engage as much since you still remember its definition. Study it too late, and the definition has faded completely. 

 

The ideal time to study a word is when you’re just starting to forget it, to rebuild the memory stronger than the first time… kind of like a muscle growing stronger through weight training. 

 

One thing to add: if you’ve reviewed a word more than twice and you easily remember it, add it to a “I know these” pile, and take it out of the reviewing rotation. Once a week, review any words in the “I know these” pile, and put any you’ve forgotten back into the normal rotation.

 

The whole process makes studying more efficient and effective. I highly recommend making your own spreadsheet to track when to study the words you’re trying to learn, so that you can stay organized about when to review.

Key #2: Connections: Rhymes, Emotions, and Patterns

 

You probably know dozens if not hundreds of songs and commercial slogans by heart. We’re good at remembering things that are catchy, that have patterns, that rhyme, and that evoke emotion.

 

The same is true for learning a new word. The more connections you build in your brain to that word, and the stronger those connections are, the more likely it is that you’ll remember the definition.

 

For example, the word quash means “to reject”, or “to put an end to”. So we have link #1: the definition.

 

How about a few more links, though, to make remembering that definition easier?

 

Link #2 could be a mnemonic. To quash a rebellion, just squash it. The rhyme and similar appearance of “squash” helps you remember.

 

Link #3 could be something creative, like a sentence you invent. “My wife keeps trying to cook vegan dinners, but I quash those squash dishes since I like eating meat.” Corny, but it’s another hook.

 

Link #4 could be seeing the word used in a normal publication. “The government moved quickly to quash the revolt.”

 

This is why looking up a word you don’t know when you’re reading helps you learn it - you automatically have context to put the word’s definition into. It’s a nice way to get a feel for the appropriate usage of the word, as well.

 

In Chapter 2 of this guide, I’ll list the most helpful resources I’ve found to build connections to the definition of a word.

Key #3: Testing

 

There’s something about knowing we’ll be tested on a word that helps us remember it. It might have something to do with the fear we’ll forget it driving the memory deeper into our brain.

 

But you don’t have to wait until the real GRE to make the most of this principle - by periodically quizzing yourself on the words you’re learning, you reinforce your memory of those words - since you have to recall them.

 

It’s pretty simple: at certain intervals, maybe weekly, quiz yourself on the words you’re working on that week. This works best with flashcards.

 

Important: Write down your results. Maybe last Sunday, you knew 153 out of 175 words you were working on that week. This Sunday, you want to look at that number and strive to surpass it.

 

Tracking your progress on paper for almost any endeavor in life will almost magically help you stay motivated and help you improve more quickly.

 

The Bottom Line

 

There are ways to make it easier for your brain to hold on to the definitions of words. I hope this chapter has helped you understand a little bit more of the why behind learning new vocabulary. Again, in Chapter 3, “Which Words to Learn”, we’ll look at specific resources to employ these principles.

 

 

 

How many vocabulary words are on the GRE?

 

To build your GRE lexicon in an organized fashion, you’ll need a source of words to study. Well on the face of it, that’s an easy task: there are lots of GRE word lists out there. So which ones are best?

 

Here’s the thing: almost every word list out there is based on the words that have already appeared in official ETS GRE verbal practice material. There’s tons of overlap between each list. 

 

To combat this redundancy, you’ll probably want to use just one list, and then supplement by looking up any words that aren’t on that list. However, ETS (the company that creates the GRE) can choose from literally any word - so it's hard to predict which words will show up on the GRE you take. That's why I want you to learn as many words as you can!

 

What are the top or most frequent GRE vocabulary words?

 

I don't know. And neither does anyone else, other than the people who design the test.

Anyone who tells you they have the "top" or "most frequently appearing" list of GRE words is full of shit. The best we can do is look at the practice material ETS has released thus far, but there's absolutely no guarantee you'll see those words on your real GRE.

 

The Best GRE Vocabulary List for 2024: Vince’s GRE Vocab Cartoons App

 

Surprise, surprise! I like the app I created! But seriously - it's really good. If you like vocab cartoons like the one above, you can download my app using the buttons below.

 

My list is based on GRE Vocab Capacity - a book I co-wrote with fellow GRE tutor Brian McElroy. Here's a clip of me reading some of the words out loud:

I think my app is the best place to start for 4 reasons:

 

1. It has the most words: about 1300 vocabulary words and 160 root words.

2. It has funny cartoons!

3. It uses mnemonics to help you remember the words.

4. It has a spaced repetition algorithm to help you review the words you need to, efficiently.

I’ll talk a lot more about vocab learning methods in the next chapter.

Other GRE Vocab Lists

 

I made a spreadsheet (linked to here) that shows ALL the words in each of 7 popular vocabulary lists. Be sure to check it out, since once you're done with the list you're studying right now, you can use my sheet to find words in other lists that you haven't learned. Just look for the words with a white background on that spreadsheet.

 

1. Gregmat (about 800 words)

2. Magoosh (1000 words)

3. Manhattan Prep (1000 words)

4. Prep Scholar (357 words)

5. Powerscore (700 words)

6. GRE Vocab Capacity (the vocabulary mnemonics book I co-wrote with Brian McElroy -- 1300 words)

7. Greenlight Test Prep Basic and Advanced (1000 words)

 

 

Is My GRE Vocab Cartoons List Enough?

 

So let’s say you’re studying using my vocab cartoons app. Is that enough? It kind of depends on your goals. For those of you who want to learn even more words, I have some advice.

 

1. Once you’ve learned all of my words, use my vocab compilation spreadsheet to study any words in the other lists (see above).

2. Look up words you don’t know when reading. Don’t forget to check the meaning of familiar-looking words to make sure you actually know their dictionary definitions!

3. Look up words you didn’t know in any ETS question or reading passage AFTER you’ve finished doing the question. If you look up the word’s definition while doing the question, you diminish its practice value.

 

Normal publications use “GRE words” all the time. (This kind of shows you that GRE vocab isn’t that weird or obscure!)

 

I particularly like two sources: The Economist, and Arts and Letters Daily. Try reading either for 15 minutes a day, and look up any vocab you don’t know / add it to your study list. The extra reading will build your verbal abilities, too.

 

And of course, any word ETS itself uses in a practice question or reading passage is a word they might use again on the GRE you take. Make sure you know the definitions of those words as well.

 

So now that we know where the words are that you need to learn, how do we best go about learning them? Stay tuned!

 

 

 

How to memorize GRE vocabulary

 

In this chapter, I’ll give you what I think are the 5 best ways to learn words given the principles I discussed in Chapter 1. Keep in mind you might want to experiment a little bit to see what works best for you.

 

 

Method 1: Look Up the Damn Thing

 

Even if you’re using a pre-created flashcard, it’s probably helpful for you to look up the word. Yeah, I know the flashcard you’re looking at has the definition of the word, but a good online dictionary will quickly supplement that definition with lots of helpful extras.

 

Plus, I trust an online dictionary to get the definition right a hell of a lot more than I trust a typical prep company. My favorite online dictionary is Merriam-Webster.

 

Merriam Webster also provides a handy list of synonyms for the word you look up. Grouping words with similar meanings can be a great way to learn them.

Another cool thing MW does sometimes is to provide definitions for those synonyms to illustrate the subtle differences between meanings.

Reading these improves your vocabulary as well as your ability to use these words properly when you write!

 

MW also provides sentences to give you a feel for real-life usages of the word you’re studying.

And finally, MW will usually provide the etymology and history of a word. Sometimes this is more helpful than others, but it’s an opportunity to build another link to the meaning of the word.

 

In summary, looking up a word is an easy way to not only learn its definition, but also to learn synonyms of the word, see real-world usage, and see if the word’s origins remind you of its meaning.

 

 

Method 2: Make Flashcards

 

Assuming you’re using my vocab app, you’ve got a whole bunch of flashcards already made. As you find new words to learn, make new flashcards in the same style.

 

To pack as much value as you can into a flashcard, here’s what I’d suggest, using the word “prodigal” as an example.

 

Front of card: write the word, and pronunciation, so you can say it to yourself as you read it (this helps).

 

Front of card

Prodigal “PRAH-dig-ul”

 

Back of the card: write the word and the part of speech (adjective, verb, noun, etc).

 

Write a brief definition.

 

Write a sentence using the word so that the sentence evokes the meaning of the word.

 

Write any synonyms you can for the word that you also need to learn (get these from an online dictionary).

 

Prodigal (adjective): wasteful. My prodigal friend is a “Prada gal” - she prodded me to lend her $1500 to buy another pair of Prada shoes. Synonyms: spendthrift, profligate

 

Notice the sentence I wrote evokes the meaning of the word because - at least for most of us - spending $1500 on a pair of shoes is kind of wasteful, especially if we needed someone to lend us the money!

 

Also notice I’m using a mnemonic - “Prada gal” - to help me remember the word’s definition. Get it? I’ll talk more about mnemonics in Method 3, below.

 

Summary: By writing these things on the card, you’re creating multiple links in your brain to the word’s meaning, making it that much more likely you’ll actually remember it.

 

 

Method 3: Make a Mnemonic

 

By now you know that “prodigal” means “wasteful”. The perfect mnemonic, I think, to remember that definition is “Prada Gal” - a girl who spends her whole paycheck on designer clothes (like Prada). 

 

If you like this method, you can make mnemonics for lots of words you’re learning.

 

The way I do this is to just say the word aloud and see what the sounds remind me of, or I look at the spelling of the word and see if that reminds me of anything.

 

For example, “avaricious” kind of sounds like “have our riches”, which might help you remember that “avaricious” means “greedy”. If you do a quick sketch illustrating the mnemonic and sentence, so much the better!

 

 

I encourage you to try these methods to make your own mnemonics for words you’re learning - if you make a good one, you may never forget the meaning of the word!

 

These mnemonics are based on GRE Vocab Capacity - the book I wrote with fellow GRE tutor Brian McElroy.

 

Check out all 1400+ of my illustrated GRE vocabulary mnemonics in my GRE vocab app linked to at the very top of this article, or follow me on Instagram, where I post the best ones: @GRE_vocab_words.

 

 

Method #4: The GRE Vocab Movie / TV Project

 

Gregmat has created a fun tool to learn vocabulary words from brief movie and TV clips called The GRE Vocab Movie / TV Project.

 

The way it works is that you’ll first see a brief definition of the word alongside closed-captioned clips from a TV show or movie where that word is used in dialogue. 

Full clip for the word “capricious”. 

This is a unique way to learn a word’s meaning for several reasons. We all like movies and TV shows, so it’s more entertaining than most methods - which always helps. Plus, it should create a different kind of memory link in your brain that just about any other method.

 

The way I’d recommend using the tool is to go to words.gregmat.com and type in the word you’re learning in the search bar to see if there’s a video clip. If so, it’ll pop up, along with the definition. Sit back, watch, and boom! You’ve added another connection in your brain to that word’s definition.

 

You can also track your progress: click the check mark next to words you know, and click the “x” next to words you don’t, and the website will help you review the ones you don’t know.

 

Bonus: This spreadsheet is another way to access the GRE Movie / TV Project’s words, definitions, and videos.

 

Method #5: Synonyms

 

When you're studying a word, you might as well learn its synonyms as well! On this spreadsheet created using Gregmat's vocab list, you'll find words listed with their synonyms. Although this is an efficient way to learn words, keep in mind that you eventually will want to learn the precise definitions of all the synonyms. However, this is possibly the fastest way to improve your vocabulary if you have a limited study timeframe.

 

 

A Note About GRE word Roots

 

If you haven’t noticed, words are sometimes comprised of parts that have common meanings. For example:

 

The prefix “in” often means “not”. For example, “incompetent” means “not competent”. 

 

Unfortunately, there are exceptions. “Inflammable” means “very flammable”.

 

Some roots don’t seem to have exceptions, luckily. For example, “chron” seems to always mean “time”. Think “chronological” or “chronic”.

 

Is learning roots a good use of your time? Yes, since they can often help you guess at the meaning of unfamiliar words.

 

Is learning roots a panacea? No, since English is messed up sometimes. Certain words have definitions that violate the common meanings of the parts of which they’re comprised (like “inflammable”).

 

The solution? I’d recommend learning 100 - 200 common roots.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

I hope this guide has been helpful to give you more direction in terms of learning new words for the GRE. Here are 3 final tips to send you on your way:

 

1. Be consistent. If you want to learn 500 or 1000 new words, you can’t really skip too many days. Make sure your vocab study time is carved out in your schedule.

2. Be creative. Engage your brain when you’re studying a word. If you’re reading it in context, try to visualize the sentence, and even feel whatever emotion it evokes. This all helps the meaning stick.

3. Be patient. There will be words that are harder to learn than others. It just means you’ll have to do a little more work with them. And take heart - it’s unpredictable which words will actually appear on the GRE that you take, so chances are you won’t even need to know a certain word.

 

Good luck, and happy GRE studying!

If you enjoyed this free guide, check out Vince's other free GRE resources.

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