viva
1
[ vee-vuh; Italian vee-vah; Spanish bee-vah ]
/ ˈvi və; Italian ˈvi vɑ; Spanish ˈbi vɑ /
interjection
Italian, Spanish.
(an exclamation of acclaim or approval): Viva Zapata!
noun
a shout of “viva.”
Origin of viva
1
1665–75; literally: may (he) live! 3rd person singular present subjunctive of Italian
vivere, Spanish
vivir ≪ Latin
vīvere to live; see
vital
Words nearby viva
Definition for viva (2 of 2)
viva
2
[ vahy-vuh ]
/ ˈvaɪ və /
noun
(in British and European universities) an oral examination; viva voce.
Origin of viva
2
First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form
Example sentences from the Web for viva
British Dictionary definitions for viva (1 of 2)
viva
1
/ (ˈviːvə) /
interjection
long live; up with (a specified person or thing)
Word Origin for viva
C17: from Italian, literally: may (he) live! from
vivere to live, from Latin
vīvere
British Dictionary definitions for viva (2 of 2)
viva
2
/ (ˈvaɪvə) British /
noun
an oral examination
verb -vas, -vaing or -vaed (tr)
to examine orally
Word Origin for viva
shortened from
viva voce