salvavides

Catalan

Etymology

Verb-object compound, composed of salva (“to save”) +‎ vides (“lives”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˌsal.βəˈβi.ðəs]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [ˌsal.vəˈvi.ðəs]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˌsal.vaˈvi.ðes]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

Noun

salvavides m (invariable)

1. life buoy, life preserver

   Synonym: cèrcol salvavides

2. (transport) cowcatcher (of a train), fender (of a tram)
3. clipping of bot salvavides (“lifeboat”)

Derived terms

• armilla salvavides

Noun

salvavides m or f by sense (invariable)

1. lifeguard

   Synonym: socorrista

Further reading

• “salvavides”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “salvavides”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
• “salvavides” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “salvavides” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.