The Ancient Memory Technique That Will Help You Learn Hundreds of Words a Day

Most people are never taught how to memorize effectively. And when they hear about this technique, they dismiss it—thinking it's weird, new, or even silly. But here's the truth:

This method is not new. The ancient Greeks and Romans were using it over 2,000 years ago to memorize hour-long speeches. It’s incredibly powerful—and if you train this skill properly, it can help you learn hundreds of words a day and become fluent in a new language in just a few months.

Let’s break it down.

The Basic Idea

You take a foreign word you want to remember and associate it with a word or image that sounds similar in your own language (or any language you know well). Then you create a weird, shocking, silly, or cartoonish mental image linking the meaning of the word to that sound.

Your brain remembers things that are strange and vivid. Boring doesn't stick.

Real Examples: Greek Vocabulary

I'm currently learning Greek. Here are some actual examples I used to memorize words fast—just two weeks into the language.

1. τρέχω (trécho) – I run

Think of Danny Trejo (the actor) running a marathon.
Even better: Danny Trejo running from the police—something chaotic, unexpected, memorable.

2. πίνω (píno) – I drink

In Spanish, pino means pine tree.
So I imagined myself drinking a pine tree. It’s absurd—but that’s the point. You remember it.

3. κρατάω (kratáo) – I hold

I thought of Kratos, the character from God of War.
Now imagine holding hands with Kratos. Slightly terrifying—but memorable.

4. τρώω (tróo) – I eat

I used the name Chris (as in Chris from Family Guy) eating tons of meat.
Picture him inside a meat factory or shoveling meat into his mouth. It’s vivid.

5. πουλάω (puláo) – I sell

Think Paulie from The Sopranos trying to sell you something.
If you’ve seen the show, you know you’d never want to buy anything from him.

6. νερό (neró) – water

This reminded me of Nero, the Roman Emperor.
Imagine him drinking water while Rome burns in the background.

7. ψωμί (psomí) – bread

Sounds a bit like Somme—as in the Battle of the Somme in WWI.
Picture soldiers throwing bread instead of grenades or shooting baguettes from the trenches.

8. αλάτι (aláti) – salt

In Spanish, alas means wings. So I imagined an angel with wings made of salt that crumble and fall apart.
Another version: Alice in Wonderland turning into a salt statue, like Lot’s wife from the Bible.

Why This Works

Your brain is not designed to remember boring lists. It remembers stories, images, and especially things that are weird, emotional, or visually striking. That’s why:

• Normal repetition is slow and inefficient.

• Mnemonics are fast, sticky, and fun.

• You can create 30–40 of these associations in just 45 minutes, once you get the hang of it.

How to Get Good at This

This is a skill you can train. At first, it may feel slow or awkward. You might second-guess your images. But with practice:

• It becomes fast and automatic.

• You’ll stop forgetting new words.

• You’ll start enjoying the process.

And once you combine this with sentence practice, spaced repetition, and audio listening, you’re on track to becoming fluent in three months or less.

Final Thoughts

Stop wasting time trying to brute-force vocabulary into your brain. Start using your imagination.

Turn every word into a vivid, silly, unforgettable image—and watch your memory (and your language skills) explode.

Train the skill. Master the technique. And never forget a word again.