vivir

Vivir is a Spanish verb that denotes the act of being alive, the process of existence, or the act of residing in a place. It is used to express both physical life and the experience of living, as well as to indicate where someone resides or how someone subsists.

Etymology and related forms: vivir comes from the Latin vivere, and has cognates in other Romance languages such as French vivre and Italian vivere. It is a regular -ir verb in standard usage, following the typical endings of Spanish -ir verbs across most tenses and moods. Related nouns and adjectives include vida (life) and vivo (alive).

Senses and usage: The primary sense is to be alive or to have life. It also means to reside or dwell in a location, as in vivir en una ciudad. Additionally, vivir can express the manner or duration of existence, as in vivir una vida plena, or to subsist or make a living, as in vivir de su trabajo. In idiomatic expressions, vivir se asocia with phrases like vivir de algo (to live on something) and vivir para algo (to live for something). The verb appears in various verbal forms to express time, aspect, mood, and voice, and is commonly used with prepositions and other complement clauses.

Conjugation (selected forms): It is a regular -ir verb. Present: yo vivo, tú vives, él vive, nosotros vivimos, vosotros vivís, ellos viven. Preterite: viví, viviste, vivió, vivimos, vivisteis, vivieron. Imperfect: vivía, vivías, vivía, vivíamos, vivíais, vivían. Future: viviré, vivirás, vivirá, seremos: viviremos, viviréis, vivirán. Subjunctive present: viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, viváis, vivan. Imperative: vive (tú), viva (usted), vivamos (nosotros), vivid (vosotros), vivan (ustedes). Participles: viviendo; vivido.

Examples illustrate its versatility: “Vivo en Madrid” (I live in Madrid), “Ella vive de su trabajo” (She lives on her work), “Quiero vivir con plenitud” (I want to live life to the fullest).