wohnen vs leben
German word comparison
Listen to wohnen
Listen to leben
| wohnen | leben |
|---|---|
WOH-nen verb | [ˈleːbən] verb |
| to live or reside (in a place) | to live (to be alive; to live one's life); can also mean to live at/in a place but with a broader sense than 'wohnen'. |
How they differ
Wohnen specifically denotes having a place of residence (dwelling, address), while leben is broader — it can mean simply to be alive, to live a certain lifestyle, or to live somewhere with emphasis on existence or experience rather than the technical fact of residence.
When to use each
When to use wohnen: Prefer 'wohnen' when you mean someone's place of residence or their dwelling (address, apartment, house).
When to use leben: Prefer 'leben' when you want to speak about living in the sense of existence, lifestyle, or when the location is mentioned more generally rather than as a formal residence.
Side-by-side examples
- Ich wohne seit drei Jahren in München.
(I have been living in Munich for three years.) - Ich lebe seit drei Jahren in München.
(I have been living in Munich for three years.)
Register & nuance: Both verbs are neutral and common; 'wohnen' is the typical choice for statements about residence, while 'leben' is equally common for general statements about living or life.