Published June 16, 2024 • Updated July 5, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Vie is a French feminine noun meaning “life.” It can refer to life in general, a person’s life, daily life, or the way someone lives. Common expressions include la vie quotidienne (daily life), gagner sa vie (to earn a living), toute ma vie (my whole life), and c’est la vie (that’s life).
IPA pronunciation of vie is /vi/ (IPA), which sounds like “vee”.
Example sentences
Pour être heureux dans la vie, il faut avoir des objectifs.
You have to have goals to be happy in life.
Il faut jouir de la vie autant que possible.
You have to enjoy life as much as possible.
La vie est courte. Profites-en !
Life is short. Enjoy it!
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👉 See also: C’est la vie (that’s life) »
Related words and expressions
- vivre — to live
- la joie de vivre — joy of living
- c’est la vie — that’s life
- vivant / vivante — alive, living
- la vie quotidienne — daily life
- changer de vie — to change one’s life
- gagner sa vie — to earn a living
- la vie est belle — life is beautiful
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