Quote Originally Posted by alexei90 View Post
I find messing up the definition badly is a good way to remember it. Of course that means being corrected, but if it's embarrassing or funny, it's extremely helpful. For example, a Russian friend of mine drew a picture of a crow in a pocket with the subtext "Кар кар! I'm a crow in your pocket." It was so funny and out of left field at the time that I'll never be forgetting that Какрман means "pocket."

Medved and Antonio are exactly right here. It's about making it memorable. Try associating it with something goofy and you might have a better chance of remembering it.
It is a good method. It also works if the association is even goofier: карман ← a car in your pocket.