saying "to live"

Tom G.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

saying "to live"

What are the different usages of habiter and vivre

Asked 3 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Tom,

- Habiter: to live where

J’habite à Bruges I live in Bruges

Tu habites en Belgique you live in Belgium

Il habite dans un pavillon = I live in a bungalow

Nous habitons en banlieue = we live in the suburbs

- Vivre: to live where / how / how long and when

 

Je vis à Bordeaux I live in Bordeaux

On vit ensemble we live together

Ils vivent dans la pauvreté = they live in poverty

Tu as longtemps vécu tout seul you lived alone for a long time

Il a vécu au début du siècle dernier he lived at the beginning of the last century

 

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Tom G.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks, that's helpful, but I'm still a little unsure of specific differences of the two works. Habiter is used for a geographical location-living in a city or town. Vivre can be used for a location too, but also for a condition, like living in poverty, or during the last century. Is this correct? 

CélineNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Tom,

Yes, indeed. 'Vivre' can be used to express a general condition, such as in 'vivre dans la pauvreté' (see example from previous answer), 'vivre dans l'opulence' 'to live in luxury'

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

saying "to live"

What are the different usages of habiter and vivre

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