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

/ ˈviːvə /

interjection

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

viva

²

/ ˈvaɪvə /

noun

1. an oral examination

verb

1. to examine orally

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

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

Origin of viva²

shortened from viva voce

Example Sentences

The inmates of FX consider Viva to be effete, soft and unserious.

From The Daily Beast

Viva, for their part, consider FXers to be poor and fanatical.

From The Daily Beast

Conditions at the neighboring camp—back to Colditz again—are the subject of lively dinner-table speculation at both FX and Viva.

From The Daily Beast

It will also be the first video Corbijn has directed since 2008, when he made “Viva la Vida” with Coldplay.

From The Daily Beast

Revelers took to the streets in the national capital to chant “Viva el Papa!”

From The Daily Beast

He believed in the value of viva voce discussion, and discouraged all unnecessary inter-departmental correspondence.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, too, elections were held viva voce under the beeches, at the foot of the wooded spur now known as Imboden Hill.

From Project Gutenberg

When all had refreshed themselves with a glass of that strengthening cordial, a unanimous and solemn cry of "Viva l'Italia!"

From Project Gutenberg

The controversy of the vis viva was what was the proper definition of the measure of force.

From Project Gutenberg

In the debate of the vis viva, it was assumed that in the mutual action of bodies the whole effect of the force is unchanged.

From Project Gutenberg