Definition
To live; to be alive, or to spend one's life in a certain way or place.
Example
Voglio vivere in una città vicino al mare.
Show translation
I want to live in a city near the sea.
Etymology
From Latin *vīvere* ("to live, be alive"), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wéti* ("to live"). Cognate with Spanish *vivir*, French *vivre*, and Portuguese *viver*, and distantly related to English *quick* (in its archaic sense of "living") and *vital*.
Cultural note
*Vivere* carries a richness in Italian culture that goes beyond mere biological existence. Italians often use it to express the full experience of life — as in the beloved phrase *"la dolce vita"* ("the sweet life"), which is fundamentally about *come si vive* (how one lives). It also appears in proverbs like *"Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo"* — because time spent well is time truly *vissuto* (lived). Note: don't confuse *vivere* (to live) with *abitare* (to reside/dwell) — both can translate as "to live" in English, but *vivere* is broader and more existential, while *abitare* specifically refers to where you reside.