Meaning and Usage
Vivre* means “to live,” referring to existing, experiencing life, or continuing in a state of being. It also appears in many idiomatic expressions.
- The primary meaning is to be alive or exist.
- It can also mean to live in a place (e.g., vivre à Paris).
- Additionally, it can express living through or experiencing something (e.g., vivre une aventure).
- Vivre* is often used in literary, philosophical, and everyday contexts.
Conjugations in Key Tenses
Present Tense (Indicative)
Used for current actions or general truths.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | vis | I live | Je vis à Paris. | I live in Paris. |
| tu | vis | you live | Tu vis bien. | You live well. |
| il/elle | vit | he/she lives | Elle vit seule. | She lives alone. |
| nous | vivons | we live | Nous vivons heureux. | We live happily. |
| vous | vivez | you live | Vous vivez longtemps. | You live long. |
| ils/elles | vivent | they live | Ils vivent ensemble. | They live together. |
Past Tense (Passé Composé)
Used for completed actions in the past. Requires auxiliary avoir and past participle vécu.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| j’ | ai vécu | I lived | J’ai vécu à Lyon. | I lived in Lyon. |
| tu | as vécu | you lived | Tu as vécu beaucoup. | You have lived a lot. |
| il/elle | a vécu | he/she lived | Elle a vécu heureuse. | She lived happily. |
| nous | avons vécu | we lived | Nous avons vécu ensemble. | We lived together. |
| vous | avez vécu | you lived | Vous avez vécu longtemps. | You lived long. |
| ils/elles | ont vécu | they lived | Ils ont vécu en France. | They lived in France. |
'Ils ___ ___ en France.' (They lived in France.) Fill in the blanks.
ont vécu
'Ont vécu' is the passé composé form for 'ils/elles'. It means 'They lived.'
Future Tense (Indicative)
Describes actions that will happen.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | vivrai | I will live | Je vivrai à la campagne. | I will live in the countryside. |
| tu | vivras | you will live | Tu vivras mieux. | You will live better. |
| il/elle | vivra | he/she will live | Elle vivra à l’étranger. | She will live abroad. |
| nous | vivrons | we will live | Nous vivrons ensemble. | We will live together. |
| vous | vivrez | you will live | Vous vivrez longtemps. | You will live long. |
| ils/elles | vivront | they will live | Ils vivront heureux. | They will live happily. |
Imperfect Tense (Indicative)
Describes past habits or ongoing past actions.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | vivais | I used to live | Je vivais à la campagne. | I used to live in the countryside. |
| tu | vivais | you used to live | Tu vivais ici. | You used to live here. |
| il/elle | vivait | he/she used to live | Elle vivait seule. | She used to live alone. |
| nous | vivions | we used to live | Nous vivions ensemble. | We used to live together. |
| vous | viviez | you used to live | Vous viviez loin. | You used to live far away. |
| ils/elles | vivaient | they used to live | Ils vivaient heureux. | They used to live happily. |
'Nous ___ ensemble.' (We used to live together.) Fill in the blank.
vivions
'Vivions' is the imperfect form for 'nous'.
Conditional Mood
Expresses what would happen under certain conditions.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | vivrais | I would live | Je vivrais à la mer. | I would live by the sea. |
| tu | vivrais | you would live | Tu vivrais mieux. | You would live better. |
| il/elle | vivrait | he/she would live | Elle vivrait seule. | She would live alone. |
| nous | vivrions | we would live | Nous vivrions ensemble. | We would live together. |
| vous | vivriez | you would live | Vous vivriez heureux. | You would live happily. |
| ils/elles | vivraient | they would live | Ils vivraient plus longtemps. | They would live longer. |
Subjunctive Present
Used after expressions of doubt, desire, or necessity.*
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| que je | vive | that I live | Il faut que je vive pleinement. | It is necessary that I live fully. |
| que tu | vives | that you live | Il est possible que tu vives mieux. | It is possible that you live better. |
| qu’il/elle | vive | that he/she lives | Bien qu’elle vive seule… | Although she lives alone… |
| que nous | vivions | that we live | Que nous vivions en paix… | That we live in peace… |
| que vous | viviez | that you live | Il faut que vous viviez heureux. | You must live happily. |
| qu’ils/elles | vivent | that they live | Qu’ils vivent leur rêve ! | May they live their dream! |
Past Participle
Used in compound tenses.*
| Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|
| vécu | lived |
Usage Notes
- Vivre* is less about mere survival and more about the quality or experience of life.
- It often appears in reflexive form (se vivre), in literary contexts, meaning to live through oneself.
- Prepositions change the meaning: vivre à (live in/at), vivre de (live on), vivre pour (live for).
- The past participle vécu can be used as an adjective meaning “experienced” (e.g., un personnage vécu).
Which preposition expresses living “on” something, such as money or resources?
de
'Vivre de peu' means to live on little; 'de' expresses the source or means of living.
Common Idiomatic Expressions
- vivre à cent à l’heure — to live life at full speed
- vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche — to live on love and fresh water (live a carefree life)
- faire vivre quelqu’un — to support someone financially
- vivre sa vie — to live one’s life
- vivre aux dépens de quelqu’un — to live at someone else’s expense
What is the meaning of 'vivre sa vie'?
to live one’s life
'Vivre sa vie' means to live according to one’s own choices and desires.
Summary
The verb vivre is a key irregular French verb meaning “to live.” It covers existence, dwelling, and experiencing life. This article has shown you the main conjugations and uses, including those in everyday speech and more expressive contexts. You can now confidently use vivre across a range of moods and tenses.
Flashcards (1 of 36)
- English Conjugation: I live
- English Example: I live in Paris.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
