¡viva!
The Spanish expression for "yay" is ¡viva!
While used to express 'yay' or excitement, ¡viva! is most commonly used in the sense of "long live [something/someone]" to show support or celebration.
Meaning: an expression of happiness (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The interjection ¡Olé! hails from Spain and is associated with flamenco dancing and bullfighting.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¡viva! is the third-person singular present subjunctive of the verb vivir (to live).
Did you know?
- Although ¡viva! is the standard, people in Mexico often use the phrase ¡ajúa! as a high-energy, regional equivalent of 'yay' or 'whoopee'.
- The use of ¡viva! can be ironic. Shouting it during a failure or a disaster is a common way to express sarcasm in several Spanish-speaking cultures.
- In historical contexts, ¡viva! was used as a political pledge of loyalty to a monarch, making it a legal declaration of allegiance rather than just an emotion.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are celebrating a promotion at work.
- Lucía¡Me dieron el ascenso!I got the promotion!
- Daniel¡Viva! Sabía que podías hacerlo.Yay! I knew you could do it.
- LucíaTengo que celebrar esto hoy.I have to celebrate this today.
- DanielYo te invito a cenar.Dinner is on me.
