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leben
/ˈleːbən/
to live
Ich möchte in einer großen Stadt leben.
I want to live in a big city.
general
To reside or exist in a particular place or condition; to have life.
Sie lebt in Berlin seit fünf Jahren.
She has lived in Berlin for five years.
The verb 'leben' is often used to describe where someone resides or their general state of living.
general
To experience life in a certain way; to feel or express a particular emotion or attitude.
Er lebt im Hier und Jetzt.
He lives in the here and now.
This usage emphasizes the quality or manner of one's life.
Collocations
ein gutes Leben führento lead a good lifevon etwas lebento live off somethingfür etwas lebento live for something
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Irregular Verb
Remember that 'leben' is an irregular verb with the past participle 'gelebt'.
Gold Rule
Preposition Usage
Use 'in' with 'leben' to indicate a place (e.g., 'in Berlin leben') and 'von' to indicate a source of sustenance (e.g., 'von Liebe leben').
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'leben', from Old High German 'lebēn', from Proto-Germanic 'libjaną', meaning 'to live'. Related to Old English 'lifian' and Old Norse 'lifa'.
Usage Notes
The verb 'leben' is irregular and has a past participle 'gelebt'. It is often used with prepositions like 'in' (to live in) or 'von' (to live off).
Word Breakdown
leb
life
root-en
verb suffix
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch