Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| solo vives una vez | /solo bibes una beθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /solo bibes una bes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| solo se vive una vez | /solo se bibe una beθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /solo se bibe una bes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Both forms are used to express the idea that one only lives once. You might use the exclamation ¡solo se vive una vez! to convey this sentiment.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in how they address the subject. solo vives una vez uses the second-person singular vives, which makes it a direct address to a specific person (you only live once). In contrast, solo se vive una vez uses the impersonal se, making it a general proverb or observation about life in general (one only lives once).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the phrase A todo culo is used to mean 'at full speed.'
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form solo se vive una vez, the se functions as an impersonal marker, similar to the English 'one lives' or 'people live.'
When do people say it?
A similar informal expression you might encounter is Vive el momento, which means 'Live in the moment.'
Did you know?
- The Latin root of vez, vicis, also shares a connection with the English word 'vicissitude', which describes the changes of fortune in life.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, phrases like solo se vive una vez are often paired with the concept of carpe diem from Latin, which is widely recognized and used in intellectual circles.
- The word solo can be spelled sólo with an accent to mean 'only', though the Royal Spanish Academy now considers the accent optional. This is a way to distinguish 'only' from the adjective meaning 'alone'.
Examples in context
- Solo se vive una vez.YOLO.This sentence is useful for practicing the impersonal form solo se vive una vez.Tatoeba #1551458 by Shishir, translation #10693669 by AutoBot
- ¡Hazlo, que solo vives una vez!Do it, you only live once!
- No lo pienses tanto, solo vives una vez.Don't think about it so much, you only live once.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding whether to go skydiving.
- Mateo¿Realmente quieres saltar del avión?Do you really want to jump from the plane?
- MaríaSí, ¡solo vives una vez!Yes, you only live once!
- MateoTienes razón, María.You are right, María.
- María¡Vamos a hacerlo, Mateo!Let's do it, Mateo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yolo” translations, 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 se, solo, una, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
