Is flashcards one word or two?
Both appear in English, but “flashcards” (one word) is standard in dictionaries and apps. “Flash cards” (two words) means the same study tool.
Guide
Term on one side, definition on the other — active recall that turns word lists into long-term vocabulary.
Vocabulary flashcards pair a word or phrase (the term) with its meaning (the definition). You see the term, try to recall the definition from memory, then reveal the answer. That flip-and-recall cycle is active retrieval — effortful recall strengthens memory more than passive re-reading.
A definition flashcard holds a term on the front and its definition on the back — “erinnern → to remember”, “猫 → cat”. Reading a numbered word list creates familiarity; definition flashcards force recall under pressure, which builds stronger memory traces.
Yes — “flashcards” is usually written as one word (or hyphenated flash-cards). “Flash cards” as two words is common in speech but dictionaries and study apps treat flashcards as a single compound. Either spelling refers to the same method: prompt, recall, check.
Flashcards work best when paired with a spaced-repetition scheduler. Without spacing, you either over-review easy cards or forget hard ones. Algorithms like FSRS decide when each flashcard word returns based on your grades — not a fixed calendar. See the FSRS guide for how that scheduling works.
Popular cram-focused flashcard tools use simple fixed intervals or manual sets. For vocabulary you need months later, prefer adaptive scheduling (FSRS or similar) and varied practice — recognition, typing, and listening — not flip-only cramming.
This guide covers the concept. See the feature page for how wordlet implements it in the app.
General answers about vocabulary flashcards explained — see the feature page for wordlet-specific setup.
Both appear in English, but “flashcards” (one word) is standard in dictionaries and apps. “Flash cards” (two words) means the same study tool.
Cards with a term on the front and its definition on the back — the basic unit of vocabulary study in digital and paper flashcard systems.
Quizlet popularized online term–definition sets and study games. The format is the same as any flashcard deck; long-term results depend on how (and how often) you review — adaptive spacing beats fixed cram intervals.
Combine active recall (flip or quiz), honest self-grading, and spaced repetition so each word returns just before you forget it. Cramming alone rarely sticks past a few days.
Spread reviews over time instead of cramming — the most replicated finding in learning science, now automated by algorithms like FSRS.
FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is a modern algorithm that predicts when you will forget a flashcard and schedules the next review for that moment.