This doctoral project investigates the role of polysemy (the phenomenon where a word has multiple meanings) and word families (groups of words derived from the same root) in the process of learning Spanish vocabulary. The research aims to explore how these linguistic features influence the acquisition and retention of vocabulary among learners of Spanish, with a focus on how understanding word families and recognizing polysemous words can enhance comprehension and vocabulary building. By examining the cognitive mechanisms involved, the project seeks to offer insights into more effective strategies for vocabulary instruction in second language learning, particularly in the context of Spanish.