Make a vocabulary crossword

Why a crossword helps you remember words

Reading a list makes words look familiar. Solving a crossword forces you to recall them from a clue and spell them correctly, which is closer to what a test or a conversation asks of you.

The letters that cross also give a small hint: if you know a crossing word, you already have one letter of the harder one.

Accents and umlauts stay intact

Ä, Ö, Ü, ẞ, É and Ñ each fit in one square, so a Spanish AÑO or a French CAFÉ appears the way it is written. Prefer the classic style? Then Ä becomes AE and ß becomes SS, like in older German puzzles.

Paste from a spreadsheet as “word – clue”, “word: clue” or with a tab. Your list goes in as it is.

Write clues that teach

You have three good options. A translation in your own language is quick. A short definition in the target language builds understanding. A sentence with a gap, such as “I drink a ___ every morning”, teaches the word in context.

Mix the three styles in one puzzle so it does not become repetitive.

Practise alone or with a group

Print the puzzle with a word bank for a first attempt, then without one when the words are more solid. Or share the short link and solve on a phone on the train.

For a class or a study group, Race mode lets everyone solve their own grid with a live leaderboard, while Together mode puts everyone in one grid.

• Twelve to twenty words per puzzle is a good size.
• Group by unit or topic, not by alphabet.
• Keep the edit link and add new words as your list grows.