Ahora vivo en Bogotá.

Now I live in Bogotá.

Breakdown of Ahora vivo en Bogotá.

• yo: I
• en: in
• ahora: now
• vivir: to live
• Bogotá: Bogotá

Questions & Answers about Ahora vivo en Bogotá.

Why do we use the simple present vivo instead of a continuous form like “I am living”?

In Spanish, the simple present can describe both habitual states and ongoing situations. Unlike English, you don’t need a separate continuous tense for “to be living.”

• Vivo en Bogotá = I live in / I am living in Bogotá
• A continuous form exists (estar
  • gerund), but it’s less common for stating where you live.

Could I say Estoy viviendo en Bogotá instead?

Yes, but it implies a temporary or very current situation. Use it if you want to stress that your living arrangement is recent or short-term:

• Estoy viviendo en Bogotá (I’m living in Bogotá right now, perhaps temporarily)
• Vivo en Bogotá (I live in Bogotá, as my usual residence)

Why is the subject pronoun omitted? Shouldn’t it be Yo vivo en Bogotá?

Spanish verb endings carry person information, so subject pronouns are optional. We include yo only for emphasis or contrast:

• (Yo) vivo en Bogotá. (I live in Bogotá.)
• Yo vivo en Bogotá, pero mi hermano vive en Medellín. (I live in Bogotá, but my brother lives in Medellín.)

Why do we say en Bogotá instead of other prepositions?

The verb vivir pairs with en when referring to residing in a place.

• Vivo en Madrid, en Buenos Aires, en un barrio…
  Other prepositions have different uses:
• viajar a (to travel to)
• venir de (to come from)
• mudar(se) a (to move to)

Can I place ahora in another part of the sentence?

Yes. Ahora (now) is flexible in Spanish. You can say:

• Ahora vivo en Bogotá. (common)
• Vivo ahora en Bogotá. (focus on the time)
• Vivo en Bogotá ahora. (emphasizes the new situation)

Why is Bogotá accented on the last syllable?

Spanish accent rules require a written accent when stress falls outside the default pattern.

• Words ending in a vowel, “n” or “s” are normally stressed on the next-to-last syllable.
• Bogotá is stressed on the last syllable (bo-go-TÁ), so it needs an accent mark.

How do I pronounce Bogotá correctly?

Pronounce each vowel clearly and stress the last syllable:

• Bo (like “bo” in “bore”)
• go (like “go” in “gone”)
• TÁ (like “tah,” but stronger)

What’s the difference between ahora and ahora mismo?

• Ahora = now (general time frame)
• Ahora mismo = right now, at this very moment (adds immediacy)