If you come across the word “living” while learning English, you might wonder about its different meanings and how to use it properly.
“Living” can refer to being alive or existing, like in “living things,” but it’s also used to talk about the way people survive or make money, such as “earning a living.
” Sometimes learners get confused between “living” as an adjective and other related words like “life” or “alive.” Understanding these differences will help you use “living” correctly in different contexts, making your speaking and writing clearer.
Major World Languages
- English – Living
- Spanish – Viviendo (vee-vee-EN-do)
- French – Vivant (vee-VAHN)
- German – Lebend (LAY-bent)
- Italian – Vivente (vee-VEN-teh)
- Portuguese – Vivendo (vee-VEN-doo)
- Russian – Живущий (Zhi-VOOSH-chee)
- Arabic – عايش (‘Ayesh) (AH-yesh)
- Mandarin – 生活 (Shēnghuó) (SHUNG-hwo)
- Japanese – 生きている (Ikite iru) (ee-kee-teh ee-roo)
European Languages
- Dutch – Levend (LAY-vent)
- Swedish – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Norwegian – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Danish – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Finnish – Elävä (EH-lah-vah)
- Polish – Żyjący (ZHI-yon-tsi)
- Czech – Žijící (ZHI-yee-tsee)
- Hungarian – Élő (AY-loo)
- Greek – Ζωντανός (Zon-ta-NOS)
- Romanian – Trăind (trah-EEND)
Asian Languages
- Hindi – जीवित (Jeevit) (JEE-vit)
- Bengali – বেঁচে থাকা (Bẽce thaka) (BEN-cheh TAH-kha)
- Korean – 살아있는 (Sara inneun) (SAH-rah een-neun)
- Vietnamese – Sống (SOHNG)
- Thai – มีชีวิต (Mee chee-wít) (MEE chee-WIT)
- Indonesian – Hidup (HEE-doop)
- Malay – Hidup (HEE-doop)
- Tagalog – Nabubuhay (na-boo-BOO-hay)
- Burmese – ရှင်သန် (Shin than) (SHIN than)
- Kannada – ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿರುವ (Badukuttiruva) (ba-DU-koo-tee-ru-va)
African Languages
- Swahili – Kuishi (koo-EE-shee)
- Zulu – Ukuphila (oo-koo-PEE-la)
- Xhosa – Ukuphila (oo-koo-PEE-la)
- Amharic – መኖር (Menor) (meh-NOR)
- Hausa – Rayuwa (rah-YOO-wah)
- Yoruba – Ngbe (en-GBEH)
- Igbo – Ibi ndu (ee-bee nn-DOO)
- Somali – Nool (nohl)
- Afrikaans – Lewend (LAY-vent)
- Malagasy – Velona (veh-LOO-nah)
Middle Eastern Languages
- Hebrew – חי (Chai) (KHAI)
- Persian – زندگی کردن (Zendegi kardan) (zen-deh-GEE kar-DAN)
- Turkish – Yaşamak (ya-sha-MAK)
- Kurdish – Jiyan (jee-YAN)
- Pashto – ژوند (Zhwand) (ZHWAND)
Indigenous & Tribal Languages
- Maori – Ora (OH-rah)
- Hawaiian – Ola (OH-lah)
- Navajo – Iiná (ee-NAH)
- Quechua – Kawsay (KOW-sai)
- Inuktitut – Uummatii (OOM-ma-tee)
- Sami – Eallin (EH-all-in)
- Basque – Bizitzen (bee-SEE-ten)
- Cherokee – ᎤᏚᎸᏗ (Uduhlvdi) (oo-DOOHL-v-dee)
- Ainu – Ror (rohr)
- Tibetan – གསོན་པོ (Sönpo) (SON-bo)
Classical & Ancient Languages
- Latin – Vivens (WEE-wens)
- Ancient Greek – Ζῶν (Zon) (ZOHN)
- Sanskrit – जीवन् (Jīvan) (JEE-van)
- Old English – Libbende (LIB-ben-deh)
- Aramaic – ܚܝܐ (Khaye) (KHA-yeh)
Sign Languages
- ASL – Hand moves upward from chest (like a plant growing)
- BSL – Both hands move upward from torso
- International Sign – Similar to ASL with upward motion
Constructed Languages
- Esperanto – Vivanta (vee-VAN-ta)
- Klingon – yIghung (yee-GHOONG)
- Elvish (Quenya) – Coivië (KOY-vee-eh)
- Dothraki – Athdavrazar (ath-da-VRA-zar)
- Na’vi – Tìrey (tee-RAY)
Unique & Rare Languages
- Sumerian – Til (TEEL)
- Etruscan – Zivas (ZEE-vas)
Bonus Philosophical Concepts:
- Japanese – Ikigai (生き甲斐) – “Reason for living”
- Danish – Hygge – “Cozy living”
- German – Lebenskunst – “Art of living”
Final Thought:
“Whether you say it as ‘living,’ ‘vivant,’ or ‘ikite iru,’ the experience of being alive connects us all across languages and cultures.” 🌍✨
“Living” in 70 Different Languages: A Global Linguistic Journey
If you come across the word “living” while learning English, you might wonder about its different meanings and how to use it properly. “Living” can refer to being alive or existing, like in “living things,” but it’s also used to talk about the way people survive or make money, such as “earning a living.” Sometimes learners get confused between “living” as an adjective and other related words like “life” or “alive.” Understanding these differences will help you use “living” correctly in different contexts, making your speaking and writing clearer.
Major World Languages
- English – Living
- Spanish – Viviendo (vee-vee-EN-do)
- French – Vivant (vee-VAHN)
- German – Lebend (LAY-bent)
- Italian – Vivente (vee-VEN-teh)
- Portuguese – Vivendo (vee-VEN-doo)
- Russian – Живущий (Zhi-VOOSH-chee)
- Arabic – عايش (‘Ayesh) (AH-yesh)
- Mandarin – 生活 (Shēnghuó) (SHUNG-hwo)
- Japanese – 生きている (Ikite iru) (ee-kee-teh ee-roo)
European Languages
- Dutch – Levend (LAY-vent)
- Swedish – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Norwegian – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Danish – Lever (LAY-ver)
- Finnish – Elävä (EH-lah-vah)
- Polish – Żyjący (ZHI-yon-tsi)
- Czech – Žijící (ZHI-yee-tsee)
- Hungarian – Élő (AY-loo)
- Greek – Ζωντανός (Zon-ta-NOS)
- Romanian – Trăind (trah-EEND)
Asian Languages
- Hindi – जीवित (Jeevit) (JEE-vit)
- Bengali – বেঁচে থাকা (Bẽce thaka) (BEN-cheh TAH-kha)
- Korean – 살아있는 (Sara inneun) (SAH-rah een-neun)
- Vietnamese – Sống (SOHNG)
- Thai – มีชีวิต (Mee chee-wít) (MEE chee-WIT)
- Indonesian – Hidup (HEE-doop)
- Malay – Hidup (HEE-doop)
- Tagalog – Nabubuhay (na-boo-BOO-hay)
- Burmese – ရှင်သန် (Shin than) (SHIN than)
- Kannada – ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿರುವ (Badukuttiruva) (ba-DU-koo-tee-ru-va)
African Languages
- Swahili – Kuishi (koo-EE-shee)
- Zulu – Ukuphila (oo-koo-PEE-la)
- Xhosa – Ukuphila (oo-koo-PEE-la)
- Amharic – መኖር (Menor) (meh-NOR)
- Hausa – Rayuwa (rah-YOO-wah)
- Yoruba – Ngbe (en-GBEH)
- Igbo – Ibi ndu (ee-bee nn-DOO)
- Somali – Nool (nohl)
- Afrikaans – Lewend (LAY-vent)
- Malagasy – Velona (veh-LOO-nah)
Middle Eastern Languages
- Hebrew – חי (Chai) (KHAI)
- Persian – زندگی کردن (Zendegi kardan) (zen-deh-GEE kar-DAN)
- Turkish – Yaşamak (ya-sha-MAK)
- Kurdish – Jiyan (jee-YAN)
- Pashto – ژوند (Zhwand) (ZHWAND)
Indigenous & Tribal Languages
- Maori – Ora (OH-rah)
- Hawaiian – Ola (OH-lah)
- Navajo – Iiná (ee-NAH)
- Quechua – Kawsay (KOW-sai)
- Inuktitut – Uummatii (OOM-ma-tee)
- Sami – Eallin (EH-all-in)
- Basque – Bizitzen (bee-SEE-ten)
- Cherokee – ᎤᏚᎸᏗ (Uduhlvdi) (oo-DOOHL-v-dee)
- Ainu – Ror (rohr)
- Tibetan – གསོན་པོ (Sönpo) (SON-bo)
Classical & Ancient Languages
- Latin – Vivens (WEE-wens)
- Ancient Greek – Ζῶν (Zon) (ZOHN)
- Sanskrit – जीवन् (Jīvan) (JEE-van)
- Old English – Libbende (LIB-ben-deh)
- Aramaic – ܚܝܐ (Khaye) (KHA-yeh)
Sign Languages
- ASL – Hand moves upward from chest (like a plant growing)
- BSL – Both hands move upward from torso
- International Sign – Similar to ASL with upward motion
Constructed Languages
- Esperanto – Vivanta (vee-VAN-ta)
- Klingon – yIghung (yee-GHOONG)
- Elvish (Quenya) – Coivië (KOY-vee-eh)
- Dothraki – Athdavrazar (ath-da-VRA-zar)
- Na’vi – Tìrey (tee-RAY)
Unique & Rare Languages
- Sumerian – Til (TEEL)
- Etruscan – Zivas (ZEE-vas)
Bonus Philosophical Concepts:
- Japanese – Ikigai (生き甲斐) – “Reason for living”
- Danish – Hygge – “Cozy living”
- German – Lebenskunst – “Art of living”
Final Thought:
“Whether you say it as ‘living,’ ‘vivant,’ or ‘ikite iru,’ the experience of being alive connects us all across languages and cultures.” 🌍✨
