Vivo en las afueras.

Vivo is the first-person singular form of the verb vivir, which means to live.

So:

• vivir = to live
• vivo = I live

In this sentence, Vivo en las afueras, the subject I is understood from the verb form, so Spanish does not need to say yo unless you want emphasis.

Spanish often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• vivo = I live
• vives = you live
• vive = he/she/you (formal) lives

So Vivo en las afueras is completely natural.
You could say Yo vivo en las afueras, but that usually adds emphasis or contrast, for example:

• Yo vivo en las afueras, pero mi hermano vive en el centro.
  I live on the outskirts, but my brother lives in the city centre.

The usual expression is en las afueras, with both the preposition en and the article las.

• en = in / on / at
• las afueras = the outskirts / the suburbs / the edge of town

So the full phrase is a fixed expression:

• vivir en las afueras = to live on the outskirts

Saying just afueras on its own would usually sound incomplete in this kind of sentence.

In Spanish, las afueras is normally used as a plural noun. It is a set expression meaning the outskirts or the outer areas of a town or city.

That is why it uses:

• the plural article las
• the plural noun afueras

Even though English sometimes uses singular ideas like the edge of town, Spanish normally says las afueras.

It can be similar, but it is not always exactly the same.

Las afueras usually means the outskirts, the outer edge of a town/city, or sometimes the suburbs, depending on context.

A few nuances:

• las afueras focuses on being outside the centre
• los suburbios can mean suburbs, but in Spain it may sound more specific and is often less common in everyday speech than las afueras

So Vivo en las afueras is a very natural way to say you live outside the city centre.

Yes, Vivo a las afueras is also common and natural.

There is a slight difference in feel:

• en las afueras = in the outskirts / on the outskirts
• a las afueras = on the outskirts / just outside

Both are used, and in many everyday situations the difference is very small.

You will also often hear:

• Vivo a las afueras de Madrid.
• Vivo en las afueras de Madrid.

Both mean I live on the outskirts of Madrid.

It can, but it does not have to.

If the place is already clear from context, Spanish can simply say:

• Vivo en las afueras.

If you want to specify the city or town, you add de + place:

• Vivo en las afueras de Sevilla.
• Vivo a las afueras de Valencia.

So the shorter sentence works when the listener already knows which place you mean.

Normally, no, not if you mean I live somewhere.

Use vivir for where someone lives:

• Vivo en las afueras. = I live on the outskirts.

Use estar for where someone is at a particular moment:

• Estoy en las afueras. = I am on the outskirts / I’m in the outskirts area.

So:

• vivir = residence / where you live
• estar = location at a given moment

The present tense in Spanish can describe a normal or current situation, and that may be either long-term or simply true at present.

• Vivo en las afueras usually means I live on the outskirts as a general fact about where you live.

If you want to stress that it is temporary or current right now, Spanish might use extra wording, for example:

• Ahora vivo en las afueras. = Right now I live on the outskirts.
• Estoy viviendo en las afueras. = I’m living on the outskirts.

But the basic sentence most naturally sounds like a normal statement about your home.

In standard Spain Spanish, vivo is pronounced approximately BEE-boh, with stress on the first syllable:

• VI-vo

A couple of notes:

• The Spanish v is usually pronounced very similarly to b
• The i is a clear vowel, like ee
• The final o is a pure vowel, not a diphthong like English oh

So it sounds closer to BEE-boh than to English VY-voh.

Yes, but the original order is the most neutral and common.

Normal order:

• Vivo en las afueras.

You might also hear other orders for emphasis, such as:

• En las afueras vivo yo.

That sounds marked or emphatic, as if contrasting with someone else or correcting something. For most situations, stick with:

• Vivo en las afueras.