Spaced repetition for vocabulary means you meet each word again on a schedule that stretches as the memory gets stronger. You review soon after learning, then wait longer if recall holds, so time goes to words about to fade instead of re-reading a full list every day.
It is a timing habit for cards you already made. It is not a full language course and not a fluency promise.
How is spaced repetition different from cramming?
Cramming packs many words into one session for a near-term test. Most of that pile fades within days if you never see the words again. Spacing spreads the same effort across time: a short review when the memory is weak, then longer gaps when it is stable.
The drop-off story is the forgetting curve. If that is fuzzy, start with Why You Forget 80% of New Words. Spacing does not invent memory; it puts reviews where the fade still matters.
Is spaced repetition the same as FSRS?
No. Spaced repetition is the broad idea: review again later, with longer intervals when recall is strong. FSRS is one scheduler that picks those next due dates from your ratings after each card. You can space reviews with a simple calendar; FSRS is the adaptive version that uses your history instead of a fixed every-three-days rule.
For the scheduler in plain English, see What FSRS means for vocabulary. For a short FSRS FAQ, see What is FSRS for vocabulary learning?. This page stays on the spacing idea itself.
What does a simple spaced vocab loop look like?
- Make a clear card (word, cue, optional image).
- Review it soon after you learn it.
- If recall was solid, wait longer next time. If it was weak, bring it back sooner.
- Prefer honest ratings over a perfect calendar.
That loop is enough to start. Encoding still matters: a weak prompt will fail no matter how clever the schedule is.
What are the limits?
Spacing will not teach conversation by itself, fix junk cards, or keep every word forever on its own. Vague cues and skipped due reviews still fail. Clear cards plus on-time reviews are the boring combo that works.
If you want that loop in product terms, open How Vidi Works when you are ready.