viviente
Lemma Details
Translation: living; alive; live
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from the Latin 'vivens, viventis', the present participle of 'vivere' meaning 'to live'. It shares the same Latin root as English words like 'vivid', 'vivacious', 'revive', and 'survive'. The Latin 'vivere' comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷeyh₃- meaning 'to live'. Unlike the English 'living' which is commonly used both as an adjective and a gerund, 'viviente' in Spanish is primarily used as an adjective.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'viviente' as related to 'vivid' in English – both suggest something full of life and energy.
- The 'viv-' root appears in many words related to life in both Spanish and English (vivid, survive, revive).
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish literature and religious texts, 'viviente' often carries a more formal or poetic tone than its synonym 'vivo'. The phrase 'ser viviente' (living being) is commonly used in biological, philosophical, or religious contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean 'alive', 'viviente' is more formal and often used in biological or philosophical contexts, whereas 'vivo' is more common in everyday speech and can also mean 'clever' or 'sharp'.
This word:
Todo ser viviente necesita agua para sobrevivir.
Every living being needs water to survive.
Confused word:
Mi abuelo todavía está vivo y muy activo.
My grandfather is still alive and very active.
Notes: 'Vivo' has multiple meanings including 'bright' (color), 'sharp' (intellect), or 'lively' that 'viviente' doesn't share.
Mnemonic: 'Viviente' ends with '-ente' like 'existente' (existing), suggesting a state of being; 'vivo' is shorter and more direct for everyday use.
Explanation: 'Viviendo' is the gerund form of 'vivir' (to live) meaning 'living' in the sense of the action of living, while 'viviente' is an adjective describing something that is alive.
Notes: The distinction is similar to the English difference between 'living' as a verb form and 'living' as an adjective.
Mnemonic: 'Viviendo' ends with '-iendo' like other gerunds (comiendo, bebiendo) and refers to the action; 'viviente' describes a state.