viva

¹

[ vee-vuh; Italian, Spanish vee-vah ]

interjection

1. Italian, Spanish. (an exclamation of acclaim or approval):

   Viva Zapata!

noun

1. a shout of “viva.”

viva

²

[ vahy-vuh ]

noun

1. (in British and European universities) an oral examination; viva voce.

viva

¹

/ ˈvaɪvə /

noun

1. an oral examination

verb

1. to examine orally

viva

²

/ ˈviːvə /

interjection

1. long live; up with (a specified person or thing)

Word History and Origins

Origin of viva¹

First recorded in 1665–75; literally: “may (he) live!” 3rd-person singular present subjunctive of Italian vivere, Spanish vivir, ultimately from Latin vīvere “to live”; vital

Origin of viva²

First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form

Word History and Origins

Origin of viva¹

shortened from viva voce

Origin of viva²

C17: from Italian, literally: may (he) live! from vivere to live, from Latin vīvere

Example Sentences

Images of the graffiti painted on several buildings showed messages including “viva Palestina” and “long live the resistance.”

From Seattle Times

Especially since Midjourney, its chosen interpreter, has a distinct lack of “viva”?

From Seattle Times

The Bayern Leverkusen forward condemned security forces in an Instagram story, saying: "Shame on you for easily killing the people and viva women of Iran. Long live Iranian women!"

From BBC

All the Bruins have to do to “viva, Las Vegas” is win the rest of their games.

From Los Angeles Times

Marchers, including families with children but also representatives of nationalist groups like ONR, fired red flares and chanted "Viva, viva border guard" and "God, Honour, Homeland" as they walked through Warsaw.

From Reuters