Habiter vs Vivre

French has two verbs which can be translated by the English verb "to live": habiter and vivre. This can be confusing to English speakers, but in fact there are distinct differences in meaning and usage for the two verbs. You won't be able to live with yourself if you don't learn how to use them both. :-)

Habiter is the equivalent of to live in, to reside in, to inhabit, used to express where one lives. Habiter is a regular -er verb and may or may not take a preposition.

   J'habite Paris, J'habite à Paris.
   I live in Paris.

   Nous avons habité une maison, dans une maison.
   We lived in a house.

   Il n'a jamais habité la banlieue, en banlieue.
   He has never lived in the suburbs.

   Cette maison n'est pas habitée.
   This house is unoccupied.


Habiter can also be used figuratively:

   Une passion incroyable l'habite.
   An incredible passion lives in (inhabits) him.

   Elle est habitée par la jalousie.
   She's gripped (inhabited) by jealousy.


Vivre is an irregular -re verb, and means to live, to be alive, to exist - it usually expresses how or when one lives.

   Elle vit dans le luxe.
   She lives in luxury.

   Voltaire a vécu au 18e siècle.
   Voltaire lived in the 18th century.

   Il vit toujours avec sa mère.
   He still lives with his mother.

   Nous vivons des jours heureux !
   We're living in happy days!


Vivre can also express where one lives.

   Je vis à Paris.
   I live in Paris.


Expressions with vivre


More synonyms for habiter and vivre

   demeurer - to live or stay somewhere, to remain
   loger - to live, to put up, to accommodate
   résider - to reside
   séjourner - to stay, to sojourn


Now that you know how to live, take the test on habiter and vivre.