vida
“vida” means “life” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
life
📝 In Action
La vida es un regalo.
A1Life is a gift.
Hay señales de vida en el planeta.
A2There are signs of life on the planet.
lifetime
Also: life
📝 In Action
He vivido aquí toda mi vida.
A2I have lived here my whole life.
En su vida, viajó por todo el mundo.
B1In his lifetime, he traveled all over the world.
life
Also: lifestyle
📝 In Action
Prefiero la vida tranquila del campo.
B1I prefer the quiet country life.
Lleva una vida muy saludable.
A2He/She leads a very healthy life.
La vida de estudiante es divertida pero difícil.
B1Student life is fun but difficult.
liveliness
Also: life, vibrancy
📝 In Action
Este barrio tiene mucha vida por la noche.
B1This neighborhood has a lot of life at night.
La música le dio vida a la fiesta.
B2The music gave life to the party.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vida
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'vida' to mean 'lifestyle'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'vīta', which meant the same thing: life, or way of life. It’s a very old word that has kept its meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Ancient Rome (as Latin 'vita')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'vida' and 'vivo'?
'Vida' is the 'thing' (a noun) – 'life' itself. For example, 'La vida es bella' (Life is beautiful). 'Vivo' is a description (an adjective) meaning 'alive' or 'lively'. For example, 'El pez está vivo' (The fish is alive).
How do I say 'to make a living' in Spanish?
The most common phrase is 'ganarse la vida'. For example, 'Trabajo mucho para ganarme la vida' means 'I work a lot to make a living'.
Is 'vida' always feminine?
Yes, always! Even when talking about a man's life, it's always 'la vida'. For example, 'la vida de mi abuelo' (my grandfather's life).