ESEN

Which one to use?Beginnerverbverb

livevsleave

They look similar but mean very different things and are pronounced differently.

Side-by-side comparison

live

verb

Verb (/lɪv/). To reside somewhere or to be alive. Also as adjective: live, as in broadcast live.

Where do you live?
¿Dónde vives?
She lives in Madrid with her family.
Ella vive en Madrid con su familia.
He lived in New York for ten years.
Él vivió en Nueva York por diez años.

leave

verb

Verb (/liːv/). To go away from a place, to depart, or to let something remain.

What time does your flight leave?
¿A qué hora sale tu vuelo?
I usually leave work at six.
Usualmente salgo del trabajo a las seis.
Don't leave your bag on the floor.
No dejes tu bolsa en el suelo.

Common mistake

Pronouncing both the same. 'Live' (verb) is pronounced /lɪv/ like 'give'. 'Leave' is pronounced /liːv/ like 'believe'. They sound completely different despite looking similar.

Trick to remember it

'Live' (/lɪv/) has a short vowel like 'give', 'did'. 'Leave' (/liːv/) has a long vowel like 'believe', 'achieve'. Short 'i' = live somewhere. Long 'ee' = leave somewhere.

Quick rule

Does it mean 'to reside' or 'to be alive'? Use 'live' (/lɪv/). Does it mean 'to depart' or 'to let something remain'? Use 'leave' (/liːv/).

Did you know?

'Live' has a twist: as a verb it is /lɪv/ (to reside), but as an adjective it is /laɪv/ (broadcast live): 'a live concert'. The same spelling, two pronunciations, two meanings. This makes it one of English's sneakiest words.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Pick the right one

What time does your train _____ tomorrow?

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

My parents _____ in a small village near the coast.

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Frequently asked questions

When do I use "live" and when do I use "leave"?

Does it mean 'to reside' or 'to be alive'? Use 'live' (/lɪv/). Does it mean 'to depart' or 'to let something remain'? Use 'leave' (/liːv/).

What is the most common mistake with "live" and "leave"?

Pronouncing both the same. 'Live' (verb) is pronounced /lɪv/ like 'give'. 'Leave' is pronounced /liːv/ like 'believe'. They sound completely different despite looking similar.

How do I remember the difference between "live" and "leave"?

'Live' (/lɪv/) has a short vowel like 'give', 'did'. 'Leave' (/liːv/) has a long vowel like 'believe', 'achieve'. Short 'i' = live somewhere. Long 'ee' = leave somewhere.

Bryan López

Founder of SpeakUP Academy

July 22, 2026

See all word pairs Explore more confusing words

Side-by-side comparison

live

verb

Verb (/lɪv/). To reside somewhere or to be alive. Also as adjective: live, as in broadcast live.

Where do you live?
¿Dónde vives?
She lives in Madrid with her family.
Ella vive en Madrid con su familia.
He lived in New York for ten years.
Él vivió en Nueva York por diez años.

leave

verb

Verb (/liːv/). To go away from a place, to depart, or to let something remain.

What time does your flight leave?
¿A qué hora sale tu vuelo?
I usually leave work at six.
Usualmente salgo del trabajo a las seis.
Don't leave your bag on the floor.
No dejes tu bolsa en el suelo.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Pick the right one

What time does your train _____ tomorrow?

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

My parents _____ in a small village near the coast.

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Frequently asked questions

When do I use "live" and when do I use "leave"?

Does it mean 'to reside' or 'to be alive'? Use 'live' (/lɪv/). Does it mean 'to depart' or 'to let something remain'? Use 'leave' (/liːv/).

What is the most common mistake with "live" and "leave"?

Pronouncing both the same. 'Live' (verb) is pronounced /lɪv/ like 'give'. 'Leave' is pronounced /liːv/ like 'believe'. They sound completely different despite looking similar.

How do I remember the difference between "live" and "leave"?

'Live' (/lɪv/) has a short vowel like 'give', 'did'. 'Leave' (/liːv/) has a long vowel like 'believe', 'achieve'. Short 'i' = live somewhere. Long 'ee' = leave somewhere.