vivo
“vivo” means “I live” in Spanish. It has 5 different meanings depending on context:
I live
Also: I am living
📝 In Action
Vivo en Madrid con mi familia.
A1I live in Madrid with my family.
Vivo una vida muy tranquila.
A2I live a very calm life.
alive
Also: living
📝 In Action
El pez que pescamos todavía está vivo.
A2The fish we caught is still alive.
¿Es una flor de plástico o es una planta viva?
B1Is it a plastic flower or a living plant?
bright
Also: vivid
📝 In Action
Pintó la pared de un color amarillo vivo.
B1She painted the wall a bright yellow color.
Sus ojos tienen un azul muy vivo.
B2Her eyes are a very vivid blue.
lively
Also: sharp, clever
📝 In Action
Es una niña muy viva, siempre está haciendo preguntas.
B1She's a very sharp/lively girl, she's always asking questions.
Tienes que ser muy vivo para tener éxito en este negocio.
B2You have to be very clever to succeed in this business.
live
📝 In Action
El concierto será transmitido en vivo por televisión.
B1The concert will be broadcast live on television.
Prefiero la música en vivo a los discos.
A2I prefer live music to records.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vivo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'vivo' to mean 'I live'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'vīvus', which means 'alive, living'. This root has given us many words in English too, like 'vivid', 'revive', and 'survive'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'vivo' and 'vivir'?
'Vivir' is the basic, unconjugated form of the verb, meaning 'to live'. 'Vivo' is the version you use when you want to say 'I live'. Think of it like the difference between 'to eat' (comer) and 'I eat' (como).
How do I say 'live music'?
You say 'música en vivo'. The phrase 'en vivo' is the key here for anything that is happening live, like a concert, a sports game, or a news report.
Why does 'El gato está vivo' use 'está' but 'El niño es vivo' use 'es'?
Great question! This shows the difference between 'ser' and 'estar'. We use 'estar' for temporary states or conditions, like being alive ('está vivo'). We use 'ser' for more permanent characteristics or personality traits, like being clever or sharp ('es vivo').