Why You Keep Using the Same Words in English and How to Expand Your Vocabulary Naturally

I had a trial lesson this week with a prospective student, and I asked her what her biggest difficulty in English was. 🤔

She said: “My problem is vocabulary. I feel like I always use the same words.”

And when you think about it, we all do the same thing, even in our native language.

We tend to use the words that come most easily.
Only when we’re trying to impress someone do we really make an effort to vary our vocabulary. 😎

So in that sense, it’s completely normal.

But in a second language, it feels different. It feels like a limitation.

Because you know you know more words than you actually use. And it’s frustrating.

It happens to me in Portuguese.

Sometimes I’m reading and I come across a word I recognise, and I think: “Why don’t I ever use this word?”

I know it and I understand it. But somehow, it never comes out when I speak. 🗣️

This is something almost all learners experience.

😅 You Know More Words Than You Use

Most people think: “I need to learn more vocabulary.”

But very often, that’s not the real problem.

You already know:
✔ more words
✔ more expressions
✔ more ways to say things

But in conversation? You always go back to the same ones.

🧠 Why This Happens

When you speak, your brain doesn’t look for the best word.

It looks for the fastest one.

So it chooses:
• the most familiar
• the most automatic
• the least “risky”

That’s why you say:

“very good”
“very big”
“very interesting”

Even if you know:
“excellent”
“huge”
“fascinating”

⚡ It’s Not a Vocabulary Problem. It’s an Access Problem

Just like when you forget words under pressure…

✅ this is about access, not knowledge.

Your brain has the words.

❌ But it doesn’t access them quickly enough in real time.

So it plays safe.

🔁 The Comfort Zone Effect

Your brain creates habits.

Once you use a word often, it becomes automatic, easy and comfortable.

And the more you use it… the stronger the habit becomes 💪

😶 Why This Can Be Limiting

Using simple words is not a problem.

But always using the same ones can:

• make your English sound repetitive
• limit your expression
• reduce nuance
• affect how confident you feel

💡 The Good News: You Can Change This

You don’t need to learn 100 new words. You need to activate the words you already know.

How to do this ❓

✅ 1. Notice Your “Default Words”

Start by identifying your habits.

Ask yourself:

👉 What words do I use all the time?

Common ones:
• very
• good
• big
• interesting
• nice

Awareness is the first step.

✅ 2. Replace ONE Word at a Time

Don’t try to change everything.

Pick ONE word.

For example:

👉 “interesting”

And replace it with:
• fascinating
• engaging
• insightful
• compelling

✅ 3. Create Small “Word Families”

Instead of learning random vocabulary, group words.

Example:

👉 “big”
• huge
• massive
• enormous

👉 “interesting”
• fascinating
• engaging
• surprising

This makes access easier.

✅ 4. Practise Actively (Not Just Passively)

Reading is not enough. You need to USE the words.

Try:
• speaking out loud
• rephrasing sentences
• describing things differently

✅ 5. Slow Down Slightly

When you slow down:

🧠 your brain has time to search
👉 you access more variety

❌ Fast = automatic words
✔️ Slightly slower = better choice

✅ 6. Accept Imperfection

Sometimes learners think: “If I don’t find the perfect word, I’ll just use a simple one.”

That’s fine.

🧪But try to experiment a little. Take small risks. It’s doesn’t matter if it’s not exactly the right word.

That’s how your vocabulary becomes active.

💭 A Final Thought

If you feel like you always use the same words in English…

❌ it doesn’t mean your level is low
❌ it doesn’t mean you lack vocabulary

It means:

✔️ your brain is using what feels safe and automatic

And that’s completely normal. But a little boring 😛

❌ Fluency is not just knowing words.

✔️ It’s being able to choose between them.

👉 If you’d like to expand your vocabulary and actually use it in real conversations, I can help.

I’m Liz Aldam, an English teacher with more than twenty years of experience, having worked with companies like Yamaha, Faurecia and others. I live in the Val-d’Oise region in France and I teach online.

📲 Click the WhatsApp icon below and contact me 😊