habitar

to inhabit

verb ah-bee-TAHR Less Common

Origin: From Latin habitare (to dwell).

Also means

to live in

Usage Note

Habitar is more formal and literary than vivir en — you would say vivimos en Madrid in casual speech but habitar una ciudad in formal writing or geography. It is always transitive in standard use (habitar la tierra). The noun hábitat (habitat) shares the same Latin root and is used identically in Spanish and English.

Examples

"Muchas especies habitan este bosque tropical."

Natural Translation

Many species inhabit this tropical forest.

Literal Translation

Many species inhabit this forest tropical.

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