Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sobrevivir | /sobɾebiˈbiɾ/ | |
| pervivir | /peɾbiˈbiɾ/ | |
| supervivir | /supeɾbiˈbiɾ/ | alternative form |
The most common and versatile word for "to survive" in Spanish is sobrevivir, which is used to describe living past a life-threatening event. Depending on the context, you might use different expressions: for example, to express the idea of "to stay alive" or "to remain alive" in formal settings, you can use mantenerse con vida or permanecer con vida. If you are speaking informally and mean "to manage" or "to cope," you can use arreglárselas, while salir adelante is an informal phrase used for overcoming obstacles or achieving personal growth.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb sobrevivir is composed of the prefix sobre- (over/above) and vivir (to live).
Which one should you use?
While sobrevivir usually refers to surviving a specific event or danger, pervivir is used for things that endure or persist through time, such as traditions or ruins. Additionally, supervivir is an alternative spelling of sobrevivir.
How does it change in a sentence?
sobrevivir is a regular -ir verb in most tenses. For example, the preterite sobreviví means "I survived".
How do you pronounce it?
/sobɾebiˈbiɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When expressing that someone survived a specific event, Spanish often uses the preposition a (for example, sobrevivir al accidente for "to survive the accident").
Did you know?
- The verb sobrevivir can be used intransitively to mean 'to outlive' someone, such as a spouse surviving their partner.
- In casual speech, when someone asks how you are doing during a hard time, responding with sobreviviendo suggests you are barely getting by.
- The Latin root of pervivir is shared with words in other Slavic languages, such as the Polish przeżyć and Russian пережи́ть.
Examples in context
- Tú y yo sobreviviremos.You and I will survive.This sentence uses sobrevivir.Tatoeba #2357602 by marcelostockle, translation #2354545 by Hybrid
- Lo hice para sobrevivir.I did that to survive.Tatoeba #6731375 by arh, translation #6731191 by CK
- No podéis sobrevivir sin dinero.You can't survive without money.Tatoeba #1824977 by Shishir, translation #1192597 by CK
- Después del accidente, luchó para sobrevivir.After the accident, he fought to survive.
- En el desierto, es vital mantenerse con vida hasta que encuentren ayuda.In the desert, it's vital to stay alive until they find help.
- A pesar de su enfermedad, logró permanecer con vida durante muchos años.Despite his illness, he managed to remain alive for many years.
- El bombero arriesgó su vida para asegurarse de que todos salieran con vida del incendio.The firefighter risked his life to make sure everyone came out alive from the fire.
- Me las arreglé para aguantar una semana sin electricidad después de la tormenta.I managed to survive a week without electricity after the storm.
- Aunque no tengo mucho dinero, siempre me las arreglo para sobrevivir.Even though I don't have much money, I always manage to survive.
- A pesar de las dificultades, siempre encuentro la fuerza para salir adelante.Despite the difficulties, I always find the strength to move forward.
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a news report about a recent shipwreck.
- MateoEs un milagro que ella pudiera sobrevivir al naufragio.It is a miracle that she could survive the shipwreck.
- SofíaSí, Mateo, es una verdadera suerte que esté bien.Yes, Mateo, it is true luck that she is fine.
- Mateo¿Crees que otros logren sobrevivir en estas condiciones?Do you think others will manage to survive in these conditions?
- SofíaEs difícil sobrevivir sin ayuda inmediata, lo siento.It is hard to survive without immediate help, I am sorry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “survive” translations and entries sobrevivir, pervivir, supervivir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pervivir, sobrevivir, supervivir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
