Skip to content

vif

lively, vivid

adjective VEEF Less Common

Also means

sharp, keen

Usage Note

Vif has a range of uses: une couleur vive (a vivid colour), un enfant vif (a lively child), une douleur vive (a sharp pain), and de vive voix (orally, lit. 'by living voice'). The feminine form is vive. The phrase à vif means 'raw' or 'exposed', as in avoir les nerfs à vif (to have frayed nerves).

Examples

"Elle a l'esprit vif et répond vite."

Natural Translation

She has a sharp mind and answers quickly.

Explore French by topic