What does vivir in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word vivir in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use vivir in Spanish.

The word vivir in Spanish means live, live, experience, lifestyle, survive, this is where we ended up living, start to enjoy life, will to live, go to live, go to live in, call girl, not let live, bring to live with you, live and let live, live like a king, live hand to mouth, live on the edge, follow the crowd, go with the flow, live under the same roof, live well, live close to, live as it were the last day of your life, live like a king, live like a king, live comfortably, be well off, live stylishly, live off of, live off, deny the truth about, turn a blind eye to reality, live on dreams, live off music, live off of private income, live off private income, live off nothing, sponge off of others, live in the past, earn a living, live the change, live in the moment, live in a community, cohabit, live in the boonies, live in the boondocks, live in the middle of nowhere, live the high life, have your head in the clouds, live in cloud-cuckoo land, live in another world, live together, live in peace, live in sin, live in society, live in a bubble, live among lights and shadows, live together, live the fantasy, live your life, live life your own way, live your life your way, live as well as possible, live as well as possible, live to, live for, live to tell the tale, live forever, live to work, live to see, live for, live beyond your means, live without, live your life, live quietly, live peacefully, experience a drama, endure a drama, fulfil a dream, have an experience, live and let live. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word vivir

live

verbo intransitivo (tener vida)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Las personas no pueden vivir sin oxígeno.
People can't live without oxygen.

live

verbo intransitivo (residir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Juan vive en Madrid.
Juan lives in Madrid.

experience

verbo transitivo (experimentar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Durante el terremoto los habitantes vivieron momentos de pánico.
During the earthquake, residents experienced moments of fear.

lifestyle

nombre masculino (forma de vida)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Disfrutaba de un lujoso vivir.
She enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle.

survive

verbo intransitivo (mantenerse)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Muchas personas viven de la caridad.
Many people survive on charity.

this is where we ended up living

expresión (conformarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Aquí nos tocó vivir y aquí nos quedaremos hasta que aparezca algo mejor.
This is where we ended up living and we'll stay here until something better comes along.

start to enjoy life

locución verbal (disfrutar de la vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No hay que esperar a jubilarse para comenzar a vivir.
You don't have to wait for retirement to start to enjoy life.

will to live

(deseo de disfrutar la vida)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El accidente que sufrimos fue tremendo pero no perdí las ganas de vivir.
The accident we had was serious but I didn't lose the will to live.

go to live

locución verbal (mudarse, cambiarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

go to live in

locución verbal (mudarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lorenzo se fue a vivir a Londres.

call girl

nombre femenino (prostituta)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Antes de ser emperatriz, Teodora de Bizancio fue una mujer de mal vivir.

not let live

locución verbal (coloquial (importunar, fastidiar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Maléfica es una amargada que no deja vivir a los demás.

bring to live with you

locución verbal (habitar con alguien)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si yo fuera Romeo, traería a Julieta a vivir conmigo.

live and let live

expresión (exhorta a ser tolerante)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lo que tu vecina decida hacer en su tiempo libre no es tu problema: vive y deja vivir.
What your neighbor decides to do in their free time is not your problem: live and let live.

live like a king

locución verbal (gozar de lujos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Desde que se jubiló, el Sr. González vive a cuerpo de rey en su nueva mansión.
Since he retired, Mr. González has been living like a king in his new mansion.

live hand to mouth

locución verbal (no ahorrar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
En esta economía solo podemos vivir al día.
In this economy we can only live hand to mouth.

live on the edge

locución verbal (amar la adrenalina)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A Juan le gusta vivir al extremo.
Juan likes to live on the edge.

follow the crowd, go with the flow

locución verbal (coloquial (seguir a la mayoría)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Esa mujer siempre vive al hilo del mundo; no tiene personalidad.

live under the same roof

locución verbal (compartir vivienda)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Estaremos viviendo un mes bajo el mismo techo; a ver si aguantamos.
We'll be living under the same roof for a month; let's see if we can take it.

live well

(gozar de comodidades)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pablo vive bien y tiene buena salud.
Pablo lives well and enjoys good health.

live close to

locución verbal (habitar junto a)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lucía vive cerca de la casa de su madre.
Lucia lives close to her mother's house.

live as it were the last day of your life

expresión (no malgastar el tiempo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live like a king

expresión (anticuado (darse la gran vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live like a king

locución verbal (coloquial (darse la gran vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Gracias a la herencia de sus padres, Pedro vive como un rey sin necesidad de trabajar.
Thanks to the inheritance from his parents, Pedro lives like a king without the need to work.

live comfortably

(gozar de comodidades)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Martín tiene dinero y vive cómodo.

be well off

locución verbal (sin falta de dinero)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Con el dinero de la herencia vivieron con desahogo una buena temporada.
With the money from the inheritance, they were well off for a good while.

live stylishly

locución verbal (ser elegante)

Eve vive con estilo y viste siempre muy bien.
Eve lives stylishly and always dresses well.

live off of

(costear sus necesidades)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pedro vive de su tienda de zapatos.
Pedro lives off of his shoe shop.

live off

locución verbal (depender de alguien)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pablo vive de sus padres porque todavía es joven.
Pablo lives off his parents because he's still young.

deny the truth about

locución verbal (negarse a ver algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

turn a blind eye to reality

locución verbal (evadirse del mundo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live on dreams

locución verbal (ser soñador)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live off music

locución verbal (trabajar en ese medio)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live off of private income

locución verbal (coloquial (del rendimiento de algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Los herederos no tienen que trabajar: viven de las rentas.

live off private income

locución verbal (coloquial (sin trabajar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mi sueño es poder vivir de rentas.
My dream is to live off private income.

live off nothing

locución verbal (sobrevivir sin dinero)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ojalá pudiera vivir del aire, pero no puedo.
If only I could live off nothing, but I can't.

sponge off of others

locución verbal (coloquial, desaprobación (vivir sin trabajar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lleva toda su vida viviendo del cuento.
He spends his life sponging off of others.

live in the past

locución verbal (estancarse en el pasado)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Algunas personas viven del recuerdo y no en el presente.
Some people live in the past and not the present.

earn a living

locución verbal (ganarse la vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live the change

expresión (adaptarse a reformas)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live in the moment

locución verbal (disfrutar el presente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Juan vive el momento sin preocuparse por el futuro.
Juan lives in the moment without worrying about the future.

live in a community

locución verbal (convivir con personas)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Con mis amigos vivimos en comunidad en una casa grande.
We live in community with my friends in a big house.

cohabit

locución verbal (cohabitar sin casarse)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
En aquella época se discriminaba a los que vivían en concubinato.
At the time, those who cohabited were discriminated against.

live in the boonies, live in the boondocks, live in the middle of nowhere

locución verbal (coloquial (vivir muy lejos) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La novia de Manuel vive en el quinto infierno, así que solo se ven cada dos semanas.
Manuel's girlfriend lives in the boonies, so they only see each other every two weeks.

live the high life

locución verbal (nadar en la opulencia)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Martín vive en la abundancia desde que ganó la lotería.
Martin has been living the high life since he won the lottery.

have your head in the clouds

locución verbal (informal (ser muy distraído)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mi hermano nunca se entera de nada porque vive en las nubes.
My brother never twigs on to anything because he always has his head in the clouds.

live in cloud-cuckoo land

locución verbal (ser un soñador) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ese político vive en las nubes: lo que propone suena muy bonito, pero son cosas imposibles.
That politician lives in cloud-cuckoo land: his proposals sound good, but they're unachievable.

live in another world

locución verbal (coloquial (evadirse de la realidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live together

(convivir, amancebarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Maria y Julián viven en pareja desde hace dos años.
Maria and Julian have been living together for two years.

live in peace

locución verbal (no tener conflictos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live in sin

locución verbal (anticuado (amancebarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mi abuela cree que vivo en pecado porque no me casé con mi novio.
My grandmother believes that I live in sin because I didn't marry my boyfriend.

live in society

locución verbal (relacionarse con otros)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Debemos aprender a vivir en sociedad.
We must learn to live in society.

live in a bubble

locución verbal (aislarse de la realidad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live among lights and shadows

expresión (literario (el claroscuro de la vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live together

(pareja: amancebarse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Martín y Laura viven juntos desde el mes pasado.
Martin and Laura went to live together last month.

live the fantasy

expresión (disfrutar de los sueños)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. "I'm living the dream," the ditchdigger said.

live your life

locución verbal (aprovechar el tiempo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Desde que Luisa se recuperó de su grave enfermedad, vive la vida y disfruta de cada momento.
Since Luisa recovered from her serious illness, she has been living her life and enjoying every moment.

live life your own way, live your life your way

expresión (seguir mi propio camino)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tienes que vivir la vida a tu manera; no puedes dejar que tus padres decidan por ti.
You have to live your life your own way: you can't let your parents decide for you.

live as well as possible

locución verbal (disfrutar la vida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ahorraron toda su vida; ahora viven lo mejor que se puede.
They saved all their lives and now they live as well as possible.

live as well as possible

locución verbal (vivir tan bien como es posible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Aunque gana poco, siempre hace por vivir lo mejor que se puede.
Even though he doesn't earn much, he does everything to live as well as possible.

live to, live for

(consagrarse a)

Ana vive para dedicarse a su profesión.
Anna lives to pursue her profession.

live to tell the tale

locución verbal (coloquial (sobrevivir) (survive)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tuvo un accidente en la moto y vivió para contarlo.
He had a motorcycle accident and lived to tell the tale.

live forever

locución verbal (ser inmortal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live to work

expresión (obsesión por el trabajo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vivir para trabajar no es saludable.
Living to work is not healthy.

live to see

expresión (denota asombro)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live for

(ser la razón de vivir)

Juan vive por sus hijos.

live beyond your means

locución verbal (endeudarse) (figurative: debt)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Juan vive por encima de sus posibilidades: gasta más de lo que gana.
Juan lives beyond his means: he spends more than he earns.

live without

(sobrevivir sin algo)

live your life

locución verbal (coloquial (dedicarse a sus asuntos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

live quietly, live peacefully

(llevar una vida plácida)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mariano vive tranquilo en una casa en el campo.
Mariano lives quietly in a house in the countryside.

experience a drama, endure a drama

locución verbal (sufrir malos momentos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pedro vivió un drama después de la muerte de su esposa.
Pedro endured a drama after the death of his wife.

fulfil a dream

locución verbal (materializarse un deseo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mariana vivió un sueño cuando se fue al Caribe.
Mariana fulfilled her dream when she went to the Caribbean.

have an experience

locución verbal (experimentar algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cuando Mario vivió una experiencia aterradora en un viaje en avión, necesitó varios meses para recuperarse.
After Mario had a terrifying experience on a plane trip, he needed several months to recover.

live and let live

locución verbal (no inmiscuirse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Respeta las decisiones de los demás; vive y deja vivir.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of vivir in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.