vida: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (Core vocabulary)Neutral; suitable for all contexts. The informal sense 'life imprisonment' is colloquial.
Quick answer
What does “vida” mean?
The state of being alive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being alive; the existence of an individual human being or organism.
1. The period between birth and death; a lifetime. 2. The experiences, activities, and circumstances that constitute a person's existence. 3. Vitality, liveliness, or energy. 4. (Informal) A sentence of imprisonment for life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Minor spelling variations in derivatives (e.g., lifestyle vs. life-style). The idiom 'to do life' for a life sentence is more common in AmE.
Connotations
Similar core connotations across varieties. 'The life' (e.g., 'the high life') may have slightly more British aristocratic historical nuance.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “vida” in a Sentence
lead a [adjective] lifelife of [noun]life as a [noun]for lifeall [possessive] lifeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “vida” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- To live one's life to the fullest.
- You need to life the life you've been given.
American English
- He lived his life on the road.
- She lives a quiet life in the country.
adverb
British English
- She was, as we say, larger than life.
American English
- He's a real-life superhero.
adjective
British English
- A life-threatening illness.
- They offer life assurance policies.
American English
- A life-saving operation.
- He received a life sentence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business, often refers to 'shelf life', 'product life cycle', 'working life'.
Academic
Used in biology ('organic life'), philosophy ('meaning of life'), sociology ('quality of life').
Everyday
Predominant usage. Refers to daily routines, personal circumstances, health, and general existence.
Technical
In insurance: 'life assurance'; in engineering: 'fatigue life'; in art: 'still life'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “vida”
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'lifes' (correct: lives).
- Confusing 'life' (noun) with 'live' (verb) or 'alive' (adjective) in structure: 'I want a live full of joy' (incorrect) vs. 'I want a life full of joy'.
- Overusing 'life' where a more specific noun is better: 'The life of the building is 50 years' (better: 'The lifespan of the building...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a general concept (existence), it's uncountable ('Life is precious'). When referring to individual existences or biographies, it's countable ('Many lives were saved', 'He wrote a life of Mozart').
'Life' is the singular noun. 'Lives' is the plural noun (/laɪvz/). Do not confuse it with the third-person singular form of the verb 'live' (e.g., 'She lives in Paris'), which is pronounced /lɪvz/.
Use 'for life' to mean permanently ('They became friends for life'). 'All my life' means for your entire existence so far. 'A life of...' describes a type of existence ('a life of crime'). 'Bring to life' means to animate or make vivid.
Not exactly. 'Lifetime' specifically refers to the duration of a life ('a lifetime guarantee'). 'Life' is broader, encompassing the state, experiences, and quality of existence. You can say 'in my life' (during my existence) but 'in my lifetime' (during the period I have been alive).
The state of being alive.
Vida is usually neutral; suitable for all contexts. the informal sense 'life imprisonment' is colloquial. in register.
Vida: in British English it is pronounced /laɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /laɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A matter of life and death.”
- “The time of your life.”
- “Get a life!”
- “Fight for your life.”
- “As large as life.”
- “That's life!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the word 'LIFE' as a lit candle (the 'L' as the wick, 'I' as the flame). The flame represents vitality and existence, which is the core meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'start a new chapter in my life'), LIFE IS A PRECIOUS POSSESSION (e.g., 'risk your life'), LIFE IS A STORY (e.g., 'live a full life').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'life' in the sense of 'a biography'?