u/Substantial-Mix8236

I think I've reached a strange point where my grammar is okay. I can make sentences, conjugate most things, and handle tenses well. But when I try to say something, I just don't know the word. I know exactly how to say what I want to say, but I keep using the same 500 words over and over. It's annoying because the grammar isn't the problem anymore; it's the words. I've used flashcards, but after a week, I forget everything. Reading helps a little, but it takes a long time. It's nice to watch things in French, but I don't really learn new words; I just passively understand.

For those of you who were able to move past the intermediate plateau in your vocabulary, what worked? Did it just happen over time, or did you do something special?

I’m around B1 now, and honestly the toughest thing so far has been “y” and “en”.

I understand what you're saying, but I still get confused or hesitate when I write real sentences.

I want to know what everyone else had the most trouble with and if it just 'clicked' for you or if you had to practise a lot.

Does anyone else go through that strange phase where you know a lot of Spanish but still freeze up when it's your turn to speak?

I can understand conversations, videos, and even jokes sometimes, but when I try to respond, my mind goes blank or I go back to very simple sentences.

What really helped you get over that? More talking? Or just more time or exposure?