hmm.. i dont know. i think i have quite a lousy memory 
especially in words.
but images are still ok i can rem faces pretty well, or some
other pictures
Brain tends to remember images better than a word. Hence the
description 'Photographic memory'.
I'm not expert in this field, but try linking the word with an
familiar image you can relate with and chances are you will be able
to remember the word :)
Just like how i remember people's names and their faces.
Whenever i'm being introduced to a stranger, i would spelt out
their name and imagine it over their head. Then take a 'snapshot'
of it, register it in your brain and i seldom forget the names.