seto vivo
/ˌseto ˈbibo/masculine
In Spanish, the phrase for a hedge is seto vivo. Wiktionary also lists cerco vivo and sebe.
Meaning: thicket of bushes planted in a row (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| seto vivo | /ˌseto ˈbibo/ | masculine |
| cerco vivo | /θeɾko bibo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /seɾko bibo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| sebe | /sebe/ (from spelling rules) | Asturias, feminine |
The term refers to a thicket of bushes planted in a row. While seto can refer to any kind of hedge, including artificial ones, adding the adjective ensures you are specifically describing a hedge made of growing plants.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase seto vivo is composed of seto (hedge) and vivo (living or alive).
Which one should you use?
The term seto vivo specifically implies a hedge made of living plants, whereas the word seto alone can refer to any hedge, including artificial ones. You may also use cerco vivo to describe a living hedge or a living fence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Asturias, the feminine noun sebe is used to mean hedge.
How does it change in a sentence?
cerco vivo is a masculine noun phrase. sebe is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌseto ˈbibo/
Did you know?
- The word cerco is a linguistic relative of the English word 'circus', both originating from the concept of a circle or enclosure.
- During the Middle Ages, you would have seen the word for living as bivo rather than the modern vivo. This spelling was the standard way to write the word before it was later regularized.
Examples in context
- La cerca viva proporciona privacidad y protección en mi jardín.The hedge provides privacy and protection in my garden.
- Me gustaría plantar un seto en el jardín para delimitar el espacio.I would like to plant a hedge in the garden to delimit the space.
- El seto vivo bordea el jardín.The hedge borders the garden.
- Necesitamos podar el seto vivo.We need to prune the hedge.
- Ese seto vivo es muy alto.That hedge is very tall.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are looking at a garden.
- SofíaMe gusta mucho ese seto vivo.I really like that hedge.
- MateoSí, se ve muy saludable, Sofía.Yes, it looks very healthy, Sofía.
- Sofía¿Tú lo cuidas, Mateo?Do you take care of it, Mateo?
- MateoSí, riego el seto vivo cada mañana.Yes, I water the hedge every morning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hedge” translations and entries seto vivo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerco, seto, vivo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
