French · Everyday Verbs
"to live" in French: vivre
vivre
Note: to reside: habiter
To live in French is vivre. Je vis means I live (exist / go through life). For your address or city, everyday French often prefers habiter: j'habite à Lyon. You can still say je vis à Lyon.
Talking about lifestyle
Je vis seule depuis septembre.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce vivre
Say it
VEEVR
/vivʁ/
Vivre ends with a soft vr: VEEVR. Je vis sounds like zhe VEE. Ils vivent keeps the v: VEEV.
"to live" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| vivre | to live Life, experience, survive. | Life, experience, survive. |
| je vis / tu vis | I live / you live Present forms. | Present forms. |
| habiter | to live (reside) City, flat, country of residence. | City, flat, country of residence. |
| vivre quelque chose | to go through something An experience: vivre une aventure. | An experience: vivre une aventure. |
| vécu | lived / experienced Past participle. | Past participle. |
How to use vivre in real life
- 1Talking about lifestyle
Je vis seule depuis septembre.
I've been living alone since September.
Vis = conjugation of vivre.
- 2After a tough year
On a vécu des moments durs.
We went through hard times.
Vécu is the past participle.
- 3Dreams
Je veux vivre près de la mer.
I want to live near the sea.
Infinitive after veux.
Mistakes English speakers make with vivre
Incorrect: Je vivre à Paris.
Correct: Je vis à Paris. / J'habite à Paris.
Conjugate: je vis. Habiter is also natural for residence.
Incorrect: J'ai vivé ça.
Correct: J'ai vécu ça.
Past participle is vécu, not vivé.
Good to know
Habiter answers "where do you live?" more often than vivre in casual chat. Vivre shines for lifestyle and experience: vivre pleinement, vivre à deux, ce que j'ai vécu.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching up about where you settle
ChatPal
Tu vis toujours à Nantes ?
Do you still live in Nantes?
You
Oui, j'y vis depuis trois ans.
Yes, I've lived there for three years.
ChatPal
Tu aimes cette ville ?
Do you like that city?
You
Beaucoup. Je m'y sens bien.
A lot. I feel good there.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to live" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to live" in French
Vivre or habiter?
Habiter for residence; vivre for life/experience (and sometimes place).
How do I say I live in Lyon?
J'habite à Lyon, or je vis à Lyon.
What is the past participle?
Vécu.
How do you pronounce vivre?
VEEVR.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
