What is the difference between habiter, vivre, loger, résider and demeurer?

The French language has several verbs to communicate specific notions that in English we could simply express by saying or conjugating: live. 

From vivre to résider, we look at the different ways these words can be used, so you can clearly and correctly explain yourself when talking about staying or living somewhere.

What does vivre mean?

Vivre the French verb used to talk about living.

It is very general and can have several different interpretations depending on context. 

It can refer to the very idea of existing and being alive:

• Il y a tellement d'humains qui vivent sur Terre. - There are a lot of humans living on Earth. 

It can be used to describe coping with, going through or experiencing something:

• Je n'ai pas très bien vécu mon déménagement. - I did not cope very well with moving house.

This word also refers to living or residing somewhere and can refer to a place (town, area, country), or a specific type of home:

• Je vis dans une maison à la campagne. - I live in a house in the countryside.

Vivre and habiter, which also means ‘to live’, are often used interchangeably - however there are small nuances.

What does habiter mean?

Habiter is commonly one of the first French verbs you learn, to talk about where you live, and often comes up in introductory phrases: J’habite à Toulouse en France (I live in Toulouse, in France). 

This verb is directly linked with habitat which refers to the place that you live - both geographical location and the physical living space.

In this sense, habiter is like vivre but it cannot be used to talk about existence, or living through an experience.

Note that it would be rare for a French person to say that they habite in France to another French person.

A French friend of a Connexion journalist suggested you can vivre somewhere and habiter elsewhere.

He took the example of his parents who vivent in Tel Aviv but habitent in Paris. In this sense, habiter bears the notion of a main home (résidence principale).

However, if you meet a French-speaker while on holiday in another country, you might say ‘J'habite en France’ to highlight that you are only visiting. It implies distance. 

Of course, vivre works as well in this context.

For example, you vivre/habite en France (en/au/aux + country), à Paris (à + city), dans une maison (dans + type of home).

What does loger mean?

Loger is linked to the word: un logement (housing or accommodation).

It suggests staying somewhere temporarily, rather than living somewhere permanently:

• Je vais loger chez un ami demain soir. - I am going to stay with a friend tomorrow night.

It can also be used to indicate how many people a particular building or home can accommodate:

• Cet appartement peut loger cinq personnes. - This flat can house five people. 

The reflexive se loger can be used to describe the idea of finding somewhere to live - and is also the name of a popular French property website.

What does résider mean?

The verb résider links to: une résidence (a residence) or being un/une résident(e) (a resident).  

It is used to talk about living or residing in a certain place, often formally or officially:

• La famille royale réside dans un château au sommet de la colline. - The royal family lives in a castle at the top of the hill.

What does demeurer mean?

Demeurer relates to: une demeure (a dwelling - often used to refer to a grand manor or a castle). 

This verb is similar to the English: to dwell.

It is quite a formal and fancy word and can imply that a person has remained in the same place for a long time. 

The two meanings also take different auxiliaries: avoir when it means to live, and être when it means to remain.

Demeurer is very literary and only used in specific circumstances. You will rarely hear it said out loud and are more likely to see it written in a novel.

If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: feedback@connexionfrance.com