viva

¹ American  

[vee-vuh, vee-vah] / ˈvi və, ˈvi vɑ /

interjection

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

   Viva Zapata!

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noun

1. a shout of “viva.”

viva ² American  

[vahy-vuh] / ˈvaɪ və /

noun

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

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viva ¹ British  

/ ˈvaɪvə /

noun

1. an oral examination

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verb

1. to examine orally

viva ² British  

/ ˈviːvə /

interjection

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

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

They both smiled, and Wright said in Spanish: “Que viva Venezuela y viva los Estados Unidos.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

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 • Nov. 9, 2022

“We won’t be seeing many Russian or Chinese bad guys in the next decade, so viva la North Koreans and rogue terrorists,” producer Lydia Obst wryly noted in November 2013.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022

Per the viva voce system, a practice with roots in Ancient Greece, eligible voters would call out the names of their preferred candidates to a government clerk, who registered votes in a pollbook.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 5, 2018

“Que viva Snuffy !” And when he sat down, Onofre stared fixedly ahead, lips trembling—for he had spoken.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols