viva
viva
UK[ˈviːvə]US[ˈviːvə]
n
A spoken examination, typically for an academic qualification, where the candidate answers questions orally.
interj
An exclamation used to express approval or to wish someone long life, especially in Italian and Spanish contexts.
Etymology
The word 'viva' entered English directly from the Romance languages Italian and Spanish, where it functions as an imperative or exclamation meaning "long live!" or "may he/she live!". Its ultimate source is the Latin verb 'vivere', meaning "to live", which is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root gʷei̯h₃- ("to live"). This same root gives rise to a host of vital English words such as 'vivid', 'vivacious', 'revive', and 'survive'. While in its source languages 'viva' is a complete phrase, in English it was adopted as a standalone noun to denote an oral examination, a usage that developed at British universities, metaphorically extending the idea of a lively, spoken interrogation.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Italian and Spanish, functioning as a simplex unit in English. It originates from the Latin verb 'vivere', meaning 'to live'. In its interjectional use, it is a complete, borrowed phrase.
Examples
She was nervous about her final viva for the doctoral degree.
The crowd shouted "Viva!" as the champion raised the trophy.
The professor's feedback after the viva was both rigorous and constructive.