vivos
“vivos” means “alive” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
alive, living
Also: vivid
📝 In Action
Los rescatistas encontraron a dos hombres vivos bajo los escombros.
A2The rescuers found two men alive under the rubble.
Dicen que los colores de esa pintura son muy vivos.
B1They say the colors in that painting are very vivid (bright).
clever, sharp
Also: sly
📝 In Action
Mis hermanos son muy vivos, siempre saben cómo negociar.
B1My brothers are very clever; they always know how to negotiate.
Tienes que estar con los ojos bien vivos cuando viajas.
B2You have to be very alert (literally: with your eyes very sharp) when you travel.
the living
Also: survivors
📝 In Action
Los vivos deben honrar la memoria de los caídos.
B2The living must honor the memory of the fallen.
Hay que preocuparse por el bienestar de los vivos.
C1One must worry about the well-being of the living.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: vivos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'vivos' to mean 'clever' or 'quick-witted'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *vivus*, meaning 'alive' or 'living.' The root is shared across many Romance languages, emphasizing the core concept of life.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'vivos' different from 'vivimos'?
'Vivos' is an adjective meaning 'alive' or 'clever' (plural and masculine). 'Vivimos' is a verb form meaning 'we live' (from the verb 'vivir'). They are completely different parts of speech, but they share the same root meaning of 'life'.
Can 'vivos' describe inanimate objects?
Yes! When talking about colors, 'vivos' means 'bright' or 'vivid' ('colores vivos'). It gives the sense that the color is very much 'alive' and intense.