viveiro

Viveiro is a term used in Portuguese and Galician to denote a place where living beings are raised, propagated, or cared for. In horticulture, a viveiro is a plant nursery where seedlings, cuttings, and young plants are grown for sale, transplantation, or conservation. Nurseries may specialize in forestry, ornamentals, fruit trees, or seedlings for reforestation. In animal husbandry, a viveiro can refer to a breeding facility or hatchery for birds, mammals, or aquatic species, including poultry hatcheries and fish nurseries. The term also appears in broader contexts to describe places or programs that foster growth, development, or propagation of ideas, cultural activities, or populations.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from viver, “to live,” with the agentive suffix -eiro indicating a place associated with the verb’s action. In Galician and Portuguese, the same term is used for both plant nurseries and breeding establishments, though regional terms may differ.

Geography: Viveiro is also the name of a municipality in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. Located in the province of Lugo, on the Atlantic coast, its historic center and coastal setting are features noted in regional guides. The name is used in other Portuguese- and Galician-speaking areas to denote similar facilities.

Related terms: nursery, seedbed, hatchery, vivarium.