vivre/vivʁ/
verb · A1/A2 · Frequency 264
verb
Meanings
to live, to be alive
Common meaning indicating the state of being alive or existing; usually intransitive.
to experience
Indicates undergoing or experiencing something; transitive use.
to live (in a place)
Indicates residing in a place; usually used with a locative complement; intransitive.
Examples
Vivre dans une ville calme lui permet de mieux dormir.
Living in a quiet city allows him to sleep better.
Après sa maladie, elle a réappris à vivre sans se presser.
After her illness, she learned to live without rushing again.
Vivre cette aventure avec ses amis a changé sa façon de voir le monde.
Experiencing this adventure with his friends changed the way he sees the world.
Collocations
- vivre heureuxto live happily
- vivre une expérienceto experience something
Common mistakes
Je vive en France.
Je vis en France.
In the present indicative, the first-person singular of vivre is the irregular form vis, not vive; vive belongs to other moods or tenses.
Related words
Grammar note
Vivre forms compound tenses with the auxiliary verb avoir; when indicating residence, it is commonly followed by the prepositions à or en.
verb
Meanings
to live, to be alive
Common meaning indicating the state of being alive or existing; usually intransitive.
to experience
Indicates undergoing or experiencing something; transitive use.
to live (in a place)
Indicates residing in a place; usually used with a locative complement; intransitive.
Examples
En vivant à la campagne, on apprend à apprécier les saisons.
By living in the countryside, one learns to appreciate the seasons.
En vivant cette aventure ensemble, nous sommes devenus très proches.
By experiencing this adventure together, we became very close.
En vivant simplement, elle dépense beaucoup moins chaque mois.
By living simply, she spends much less each month.
Grammar note
Vivre forms compound tenses with the auxiliary verb avoir; when indicating residence, it is commonly followed by the prepositions à or en.
verb
Meanings
to live, to be alive
Common meaning indicating the state of being alive or existing; usually intransitive.
to experience
Indicates undergoing or experiencing something; transitive use.
to live (in a place)
Indicates residing in a place; usually used with a locative complement; intransitive.
Examples
Après l'accident, il a vécu plusieurs mois chez ses parents.
After the accident, he lived with his parents for several months.
Elle a vécu assez longtemps pour voir ses petits-enfants grandir.
She lived long enough to see her grandchildren grow up.
Nous avons vécu une expérience inoubliable pendant notre voyage.
We experienced an unforgettable moment during our trip.
Grammar note
Vivre forms compound tenses with the auxiliary verb avoir; when indicating residence, it is commonly followed by the prepositions à or en.
verb
Meanings
to live, to be alive
Common meaning indicating the state of being alive or existing; usually intransitive.
to experience
Indicates undergoing or experiencing something; transitive use.
to live (in a place)
Indicates residing in a place; usually used with a locative complement; intransitive.
Examples
Je vis à Lyon depuis trois ans.
I have lived in Lyon for three years.
Je vis une période difficile au travail.
I am going through a difficult period at work.
Vis pleinement chaque journée avec tes proches.
Live each day to the fullest with your loved ones.
Grammar note
Vivre forms compound tenses with the auxiliary verb avoir; when indicating residence, it is commonly followed by the prepositions à or en.
verb
Meanings
to live, to be alive
Common meaning indicating the state of being alive or existing; usually intransitive.
to experience
Indicates undergoing or experiencing something; transitive use.
to live (in a place)
Indicates residing in a place; usually used with a locative complement; intransitive.
Examples
Il vit dans un petit appartement près de la gare.
He lives in a small apartment near the station.
Mon grand-père vit encore seul à la campagne.
My grandfather still lives alone in the countryside.
Elle vit chaque changement comme une nouvelle occasion d'apprendre.
She experiences every change as a new opportunity to learn.
Grammar note
Vivre forms compound tenses with the auxiliary verb avoir; when indicating residence, it is commonly followed by the prepositions à or en.