sobreviviente
/sobɾebiˈbjente/common gender
The English phrase 'survivor' is translated into Spanish as sobreviviente. Wiktionary also lists superviviente and perviviente.
Meaning: one who survives (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sobreviviente | /sobɾebiˈbjente/ | common gender |
| superviviente | /supeɾbiˈbjente/ | common gender |
| perviviente | /peɾbibjente/ (from spelling rules) | common gender |
The term refers to one who survives.
What does it mean word for word?
The word sobreviviente is built from the prefix sobre- (over/above) and the verb vivir (to live).
Which one should you use?
sobreviviente is the standard term used in Latin American Spanish, while superviviente is also a form used for survivor. perviviente is a much rarer, more literary term that often implies something that has endured or persisted through time rather than a person surviving a specific event.
Is it said differently in some regions?
sobreviviente is the standard term in Latin American Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
sobreviviente is a common-gender noun, meaning the noun itself does not change for gender, only the accompanying article (el/la) does.
How do you pronounce it?
/sobɾebiˈbjente/
Did you know?
- The verb inside the word, vivir, shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'life' through the same Proto-Indo-European roots.
- In Spain, superviviente is the dominant term, whereas in the Americas, sobreviviente is far more common.
- The suffix -iente in sobreviviente functions similarly to the English '-ent' in words like 'resident' or 'patient'.
Examples in context
- Tom fue el único sobreviviente.Tom was the only survivor.This sentence is useful for identifying a single survivor in a group using sobreviviente.Tatoeba #3031011 by hayastan, translation #2644287 by CK
- Él es el único superviviente del pueblo.He's the only survivor in the village.This sentence demonstrates the use of superviviente to describe a person from a village.Tatoeba #1712979 by teskmon, translation #1577322 by CM
- El único sobreviviente del choque fue una bebé.The sole survivor of the crash was a baby.This sentence shows how to use sobreviviente to describe the sole person who lived through a crash.Tatoeba #1880201 by marcelostockle, translation #44999 by CM
- Ella es una sobrevivienteShe is a survivor
- Somos supervivientes de una tragediaWe are survivors of a tragedy
- Todos somos Latinoamérica, sobrevivientes de muchas luchasWe are all Latin America, survivors of many struggles
- Después del accidente, se convirtió en una sobreviviente y luchó por su recuperación.After the accident, she became a survivor and fought for her recovery.
- Soy un sobreviviente del cáncer, y mi objetivo es inspirar a otros.I am a cancer survivor, and my goal is to inspire others.
- Eres un superviviente increíble, no dejes que nada te detenga.You are an incredible survivor, don't let anything hold you back.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a documentary about an old shipwreck.
- MaríaElla es una sobreviviente de la tormenta.She is a survivor of the storm.
- JavierÉl también es un sobreviviente de ese naufragio.He is also a survivor of that shipwreck.
- MaríaEs increíble que cada sobreviviente esté aquí.It is incredible that every survivor is here.
- JavierSí, su fuerza es asombrosa.Yes, their strength is amazing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “survivor” translations and entries sobreviviente, superviviente, 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 sobreviviente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
