vif

See also: víf and vîf

French

Etymology

From Middle French vif, from Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”), from Proto-Italic *gʷīwos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (“alive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vif/

• audio:

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• Audio (Paris):

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• Homophone: vifs

Adjective

vif (feminine vive, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vives)

1. lively, brisk
2. vivid, bright
3. keen, sharp
4. (words) poignant, cutting, sharp
5. (edges) sharp, jagged
6. (medicine) acute, intense, strong
7. (feelings, emotions) great, deep

Usage notes

• In the sense “great, deep”, the adjective is placed before the noun, e.g. vif plaisir (“great pleasure”), vive tristesse (“deep sadness”). In all other senses it comes after the noun. e.g. vent vif (“keen wind”), musique vive (“lively music”).

Synonyms

• violent
• vivant

Related terms

• vivement
• vivre

Noun

vif m (plural vifs)

1. living person

Derived terms

• avoir les nerfs à vif
• entrer dans le vif du sujet
  • mort ou vif
• piquer au vif

Further reading

• “vif”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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Middle French

Etymology

From Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”).

Adjective

vif m (feminine singular vifve, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vifes)

1. alive

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Norman

Etymology

From Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”).

Adjective

vif m

1. (Jersey) alive, quick

Derived terms

• vivement

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Old French

Etymology

From Latin vīvus (“alive, living”)

Adjective

vif m (oblique and nominative feminine singular vive)

1. alive

Declension

Declension of vif

Number	Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular	Subject	vis or less commonly vifs	vive	vif
	Oblique	vif			vive	vif
Plural	Subject	vif	vives		vif
	Oblique	vis or less commonly vifs			vives	vif

Descendants

• Middle French: vif
  • French: vif
• Norman: vif

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Volapük

Noun

vif

1. rapidity
2. speed