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vivir

bee-BEERbiˈβiɾ

to live

Also: to exist
VerbA1regular ir
A person standing on a lush green hill with arms outstretched under a bright sun, symbolizing vitality and the act of being alive.
infinitivevivir
gerundviviendo
past Participlevivido

📝 In Action

Mi abuela vivió noventa y ocho años.

A2

My grandmother lived for ninety-eight years.

Los peces viven en el agua.

A1

Fish live in water.

¡Vive y deja vivir!

B1

Live and let live!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • vivir la vida – to live life (to the fullest)
  • vivir para siempre – to live forever

to live

Also: to dwell, to reside
VerbA1regular ir
A cozy, colorful house with a chimney and windows, representing a permanent dwelling or residence.
infinitivevivir
gerundviviendo
past Participlevivido

📝 In Action

¿Dónde vives?

A1

Where do you live?

Vivo en un apartamento en el centro de la ciudad.

A1

I live in an apartment in the city center.

Mis padres viven con mi hermano.

A2

My parents live with my brother.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vivir en el campo – to live in the countryside
  • vivir con alguien – to live with someone
  • vivir solo/a – to live alone

to experience

Also: to live through
VerbB1regular ir
A child looking up with wide eyes at a beautiful, colorful rainbow arching over a landscape, symbolizing the act of experiencing something wonderful.
infinitivevivir
gerundviviendo
past Participlevivido

📝 In Action

He vivido momentos muy felices aquí.

B1

I have experienced very happy moments here.

Es una experiencia que todos deberían vivir.

B2

It's an experience that everyone should have.

Nuestros abuelos vivieron una guerra.

B2

Our grandparents lived through a war.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • vivir en carne propia – to experience something firsthand

to live on / off

Also: to make a living from
VerbB1regular ir
A cheerful artist painting on a canvas, with a stylized representation of money flowing from the artwork into a basket, symbolizing making a living from a skill.
infinitivevivir
gerundviviendo
past Participlevivido

📝 In Action

Ella vive de la pintura.

B1

She makes a living from painting.

No se puede vivir solo de amor.

B1

You can't live on love alone.

Mucha gente en esta zona vive del turismo.

B2

A lot of people in this area live off tourism.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • vivir de las rentas – to live off of investments/rental income
  • vivir al día – to live from day to day / from paycheck to paycheck

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedvive
yovivo
túvives
ellos/ellas/ustedesviven
nosotrosvivimos
vosotrosvivís

imperfect

él/ella/ustedvivía
yovivía
túvivías
ellos/ellas/ustedesvivían
nosotrosvivíamos
vosotrosvivíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedvivió
yoviví
túviviste
ellos/ellas/ustedesvivieron
nosotrosvivimos
vosotrosvivisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedviva
yoviva
túvivas
ellos/ellas/ustedesvivan
nosotrosvivamos
vosotrosviváis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedviviera
yoviviera
túvivieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesvivieran
nosotrosviviéramos
vosotrosvivierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: vivir

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'vivir' to mean 'to make a living'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'vīvere', which meant 'to live, be alive'. It's a very old and stable word that has been part of the language for centuries.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: viverFrench: vivreItalian: vivereEnglish: vivid, revive, survive

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'vivir en' and 'estar en'?

Use 'vivir en' for your permanent home or residence ('Vivo en Londres'). Use 'estar en' for your temporary location right now ('Estoy en la oficina', 'Estoy en París de vacaciones'). 'Vivir' is about where your life is based, while 'estar' is about where your body is at the moment.

How do I use '¡Viva!' in expressions?

¡Viva! is a special form of 'vivir' used for cheering. It means 'Long live...!' or 'Hooray for...!'. You'll often hear it in celebrations, like '¡Viva México!' on Independence Day, or '¡Vivan los novios!' (Long live the bride and groom!) at a wedding.