>One of the most efficient tricks to learn a new word in a foreign language that you can relate to nothing you know, is to use a mental hook. These 'mental hooks' are vivid mental images made up to tie a new word to something you will remember. For instance, to remember Russian for big - 'bolshoi', you can think of watching a show of gigantic balls, BALL-SHOW.

The more incongruous, the better. They don't need to make sense or be perfect as they will only be used by you. If the hook is good enough for you to remember the word, that's all that counts. The good thing about mental hooks is that they are environmentally friendly. After a few months, they will rot away and you will remember only the word and its meaning but forget the mental image you created to remember them.