vivo
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “vivo” mean in English?
1.alive — in a state of being alive; also: still active/surviving
alive — in a state of being alive; also: still active/surviving (seguir vivo); figuratively: vivid, vibrant
2.sharp, quick-witted — characteristically intelligent and alert
sharp, quick-witted — characteristically intelligent and alert (ser vivo = to be a sharp/clever person)
Example sentences
Contra todo pronóstico, el movimiento ciudadano sigue vivo y gana fuerza en las ciudades del interior.
Against all odds, the civic movement is still alive and gaining strength in inland cities.
El debate sobre la eutanasia está más vivo que nunca en el Parlamento y en los medios de comunicación.
The debate on euthanasia is more alive than ever in Parliament and in the media.
Es un profesional muy vivo: aprende rápido y siempre sabe cómo adaptar su discurso a la audiencia.
He's a very sharp professional: he learns quickly and always knows how to adapt his speech to the audience.
How to use it
Vivo/a covers two B2 senses relevant to 'alive': (1) alive/living — estar vivo (to be alive), a state (not character); (2) vivid/vibrant (colours, debate, memory) — ser/estar vivo depending on context. Critical ser vs estar distinction: 'estar vivo' = to be alive (state, can change); 'ser vivo' = to be sharp/clever (character trait, especially in Latin America). For the metaphorical 'a movement/tradition is still alive' sense, seguir vivo or mantenerse vivo are the natural constructions.
Common mistake
The ser vs estar contrast with vivo is one of the classic B2 traps. 'Estar vivo' = to be alive (biological state). 'Ser vivo' = to be sharp, clever, quick-witted — a character description. Using ser vivo to mean alive sounds like you're calling someone clever. In the metaphorical sense ('the tradition is alive'), both seguir vivo and estar vivo work; ser vivo does not.