vive
/bee-beh/
lives
Vive means 'he/she lives' when referring to residence or being alive.
vive(Verb)
lives
?stating where someone resides
,is alive
?stating that someone is not dead
experiences
?describing a way of life
📝 In Action
Mi hermana vive en Barcelona.
A1My sister lives in Barcelona.
Él vive una vida muy interesante.
A2He lives a very interesting life.
La reina vive en el palacio.
B1The queen lives in the palace.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About 'He', 'She', or 'You (Formal)'
The '-e' ending on 'vive' tells you the action is being done by 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (the formal 'you'). It's the go-to form for talking about one other person.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Live' vs. 'Alive'
Mistake: "Using 'está vivo' when you mean 'vive'."
Correction: Use 'vive en...' for where someone lives ('Mi tío vive en Perú'). Use 'está vivo/a' to emphasize that someone is alive ('¡El paciente está vivo!'). While 'vive' can also mean 'is alive,' it's less common and emphatic in that sense.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just a Place
Besides saying where someone lives, 'vive' is great for describing the way someone lives. For example, 'él vive una aventura' means 'he's living an adventure'.
¡Vive! is the informal command meaning 'Live!' or 'Experience life fully.'
📝 In Action
¡No te preocupes tanto y vive el momento!
A2Don't worry so much and live in the moment!
Vive tu vida como quieras, no como quieran los demás.
B1Live your life how you want, not how others want.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands
When you want to give a friendly command to one person you know well (the 'tú' form), you often use the same form as the 'he/she' present tense. So, 'él vive' (he lives) and '¡vive!' (live!) look identical but have different jobs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Friendly vs. Formal Commands
Mistake: "Telling a stranger or someone you respect '¡Vive!'"
Correction: For formal commands (to 'usted'), you need to change the ending to '-a': 'viva'. So, '¡Vive la vida!' is for a friend, but '¡Viva la experiencia!' is for a customer at a hotel.
⭐ Usage Tips
Inspirational and Motivational
You'll see '¡Vive!' a lot on posters, in songs, and in motivational quotes. It's a powerful word for encouraging someone to be more adventurous or present.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vive
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'vive' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'vive' and 'viva'?
They look similar but have different jobs! 'Vive' is used in two main ways: to say 'he/she/you (formal) lives' (e.g., 'Él vive en México') OR to give a friendly command to one person ('¡Vive tu sueño!'). 'Viva' is a special form used for wishes ('¡Viva el rey!' - Long live the king!), or for giving formal commands ('Viva con cuidado, señor' - Live carefully, sir).
How do I say 'you live' in Spanish?
It depends on who 'you' is! For a friend or someone your age (tú), you say 'vives'. For an elder, a boss, or a stranger (usted), you say 'vive'. For a group of people (ustedes), you say 'viven'.