Italian Phrase
Vive in un'altra città.
Meaning
This phrase is used to state that a third person resides in a different urban location than the current one. It combines the verb 'vivere' (to live) with the preposition 'in' and the feminine noun 'città'. It is a straightforward way to explain someone's absence or relocation.
When to use
Use this when talking about a friend, relative, or colleague who doesn't live nearby. It is perfect for casual conversations when someone asks about another person's whereabouts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Viveinun'altracittà
Vive
The third-person singular form of the verb 'vivere' (to live) in the present indicative tense.
Un'altra
The feminine indefinite article 'una' drops its 'a' and takes an apostrophe before 'altra' because it starts with a vowel.
Città
An invariable feminine noun; its form remains the same in both singular and plural, always requiring the accent on the 'à'.
🗨In Conversation
Tuo fratello viene alla festa stasera?
Is your brother coming to the party tonight?
No, purtroppo vive in un'altra città.
No, unfortunately he lives in another city.
✕Common Mistakes
Lui vive a un'altra città.
In Italian, we use the preposition 'in' when followed by 'città' (city) in a general sense, whereas 'a' is used before specific city names.
Vive in un altra città.
Since 'altra' is feminine and starts with a vowel, the indefinite article 'una' must be elided to 'un'' with an apostrophe.
↔Alternatives
Abita in un'altra città.
He/She resides in another city.
Si è trasferito in un'altra città.
He/She moved to another city.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, moving to another city is often associated with 'fuori sede' culture, where students or workers move from their hometowns (often in the South) to larger hubs like Milan or Rome. Family ties remain very strong, so saying someone lives in another city often implies they return home for major holidays.