What would you do if you found yourself looking for a word that just won’t come to mind? Perhaps, you have tried to express your ideas in writing or speech but articulate them. There are many ways to enhance your vocabulary and making word games a part of your routine is one of the best and entertaining ways to do it.
It can be fun picking up new words and learning new vocabulary can be exciting if you know how to go about it. Word games are a fantastic way of organically learning new words as opposed to sitting down to memorize or being forced to drill through long lists. They also ensure that you remember the newly learnt words and context builds around them which makes it easier to use those words in day-to-day life.
In this guide, we will discuss in depth why word games are effective for vocabulary enhancement, types of word games for daily use, and how to use them to improve your skills with ease.
The Importance of Word Games for Enhancing Vocabulary
Besides offering enjoyment, word games can stretch the limits of one’s imagination. Here’s how word games can help you enrich your vocabulary:
1. They Make Learning Fun
Word games are fun and enjoyable, unlike old school vocab enhancing techniques. If you are enjoying yourself, there is a higher probability that you will remain engaged, which will result in greater exposure to new words.
2. They Strengthen Recollection
In word games, words are frequently placed in different contexts, which makes it simpler to remember their meanings. You are more likely to remember these words because, as per research, learning vocabulary in context strengthens memory retention.
3. They Improve Problem Solving Skills
Your brain will be overall sharper because word games require critical thinking and recognizing patterns. With improved problem solving skills, your ability to recall new vocabulary will improve over time as well.
4. They Enable Daily Practice
Frequent repetition is crucial when learning new vocabulary, and word games can easily become a part of your everyday life, be it during breakfast, lunch or even before sleeping.
5. They Help With The Pronunciation and Spelling of Words
Spelling and pronunciation are some things that get the attention of many word games. This is useful especially for splendid words that have a great deal with them than what seems to be the case.
The Best Word Games for Increasing Vocabulary
There are many word games, but when it comes to vocabulary enhancement other games are the best suited. Find the ones that are the best suited here as we discuss which one is the simplest to play on a daily basis.
1. Crossword Puzzles
Crosswords presented here are the simplest ones offered Write words to their definitions based on some clues. Above all, they encourage you to think about words and meaning, as well as expand your vocabulary.
How to Use Crosswords for Vocabulary Growth
Try doing a crossword puzzle with the help of a newspaper, website, or an app that has better catalogues of these puzzles.
Be sure to get a notebook or some sheets of paper onto which you will add words which are new, as well as notes containing their definitions.
Fighting temptation and refraining from using hints during many of these brain teasers can sharpen the brain.
2. Word Searches
Even though they look easy at a first glance, learners try to identify single words from any given block of letters and in the process either learn or try to spell and recognize the new words actively. These kinds of word games fit perfectly into narrow subjects, which makes learning so much easier.
Fine-tuning word searches:
Select word searches that emphasize more advanced vocabulary categories such as medicine, SATs, or even other languages.
Try pronouncing the words in order to help reinforce your pronunciation.
3. Scrabble (and/or Words With Friends)
Scrabble is perhaps the best game people can invest in to build their vocabulary because it requires players to come up with new words from the available letters. With time, you add more and more words into your mental vocabulary.
Scrabble tips for vocabulary enhancement:
Always keep a dictionary at hand, and ensure you look up any unfamiliar words used by you and your opponents.
Set a simple challenge of replacing words that are frequently used with words that are not so commonplace.
Seek stronger opponents for tougher matches so you can learn new words through experience.
4. Jumble Puzzles and Anagrams
Anagrams are games where each letter within a skip is free to move anywhere within the skip box, and you must change the order of letters to create new words. This kind of puzzle is great for improving people’s recognition of how words are structured and how they are spelled.
How to improve vocabulary using anagrams:
Take advantage of the many free anagram solvers available on the internet to help you come up with new words.
Try setting a timer and seeing how many words you can come up with.
Set yourself the challenge of learning the definition of any of the words you create that you do not know.
5. Spelling Bees
Even adults can enjoy spelling bees! When engaging in more vocabulary activities, the ability to spell words correctly enables the individual to improve their vocabulary exponentially.
Ways to Incorporate Spelling Bees Into Your Routine:
Download spelling bee applications and website pages to practice daily.
Use newly acquired vocabulary in the sentences you write to help remember the meaning.
6. Hangman
Another game that is easy to play is Hangman. Forcing you to remember the words and then guess them letter by letter enables you to recognize the words better as well as memorize them more efficiently.
Hangman Strategy for Vocabulary Growth:
Use words that are more advanced than basic ones to expand your vocabulary.
Create a theme (like scientific terms and words related to literature) to guide your learning.
7. Online Word Game Apps
Using technology helps people with difficult and engaging apps solve word drills. Some popular educational apps include:
Wordscapes – A unique blend of anagrams and crossword puzzles.
Puzzle Jam – A vocabulary challenging word puzzle game with a high visual appeal.
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day – A native English speaker or learner is able to learn and formulate sentences using the newly obtained word each day.
How to Get the Most Out of Word Games
Understand that repetition alone won’t facilitate the much needed improvement in your vocabulary. It is essential that you adopt an approach that is more methodical. Here is how to get the most out of word games:
1. Vocabulary Diary
Each time you come across a word while playing, make a note its definition, how it’s pronounced, and a sentence depicting its context. This serves useful when trying to recall more complex information.
2. Using New Vocabulary in Daily Conversations
The practice of using a word new to you aids retention of that word. Challenge yourself to weave new vocabulary knowledge into your social media activity, emails, text messages and conversations.
3. Daily Goals
Challenge yourself to learn and utilize a word new to you each day. Doing this manually on platforms such as Puzzle Jam is a marvelous method because fresh words are provided in a playful way.
4. Read More Books and Articles
While playing word games, it is also important to focus on reading and often exposing yourself with new articles and books. The wider the range of words you read, the more you will be able to employ them in the correct context.
5. Play with Friends
Friendly competition when playing word games helps stimulate motivation. You also get to learn less common vocabulary as a result of having new opponents get introduced.
Conclusions
Gaining strong command over vocabulary need not be a boring task at hand. As word puzzles or word games such as crossword puzzles or word jumble puzzles or even fast paced games such as puzzle jam brings fun to the activity, it becomes easier to build vocabulary. The only caveat here is that these puzzles have to be done consistently.
Taking on new words increases puzzle solving skills and confidence in self-expression. So why put off tomorrow what can be done today? Start playing the game Puzzle Jam today and with time effortless improvement of vocabulary will be witnessed.
Eager to Enhance Your Vocabulary?
Start Playing Puzzle Jam Today!
