vivo
Lemma Details
Translation: alive; living; lively; vivid; bright; sharp; keen; quick-witted
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'vivus' meaning 'alive, living'. It shares the same Latin root as English words like 'vivid', 'vivacious', 'revive', and 'survive'. The root 'viv-' comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷih₃wós, meaning 'alive'. This connection to life and vitality is preserved in both Spanish and English cognates.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mi abuelo todavía está vivo a los 95 años.
My grandfather is still alive at 95 years old.
El rojo vivo del atardecer era impresionante.
The vivid red of the sunset was impressive.
Juan es muy vivo para los negocios.
Juan is very sharp when it comes to business.
Prefiero ver el concierto en vivo.
I prefer to see the concert live.
Tiene un carácter muy vivo.
He has a very lively character.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'vivo' as related to 'vivid' in English - both suggest something bright, intense, and full of life.
- Remember 'vivo' by thinking of a 'VIVacious' person who is full of life and energy.
- Connect it to 'survive' - someone who is 'vivo' has survived and is still alive.
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'vivo' can also carry connotations of someone who is clever or street-smart, sometimes with a hint of mischievousness or cunning. The expression '¡Viva!' is a common exclamation of celebration or support, similar to 'Long live!' in English.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Vivo' means 'alive' or 'living', while 'vino' means 'wine' or is the past tense of 'venir' (to come).
Confused word:
Él vino a la fiesta ayer.
He came to the party yesterday.
Notes: These words differ by just one letter but have completely different meanings and uses.
Mnemonic: 'Vivo' has an 'v' like 'vital', while 'vino' has an 'n' like in 'wine'.
Explanation: 'Vivo' is an adjective meaning 'alive', while 'vida' is a noun meaning 'life'.
This word:
El animal está vivo.
The animal is alive.
Confused word:
La vida es bella.
Life is beautiful.
Notes: These words share the same root and are semantically related, but have different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Vivo' describes a living state, while 'vida' is the noun 'life' itself.