gripe
“gripe” means “flu” in Spanish (influenza illness).
flu, influenza
Also: head cold
📝 In Action
Tengo gripe y no puedo ir a trabajar hoy.
A1I have the flu and I can't go to work today.
¿Ya te pusiste la vacuna contra la gripe?
A2Did you already get the flu shot?
La gripe de este año fue muy fuerte y me dejó en cama.
B1This year's flu was very strong and left me in bed.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gripe
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish phrase correctly expresses 'I have the flu'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Borrowed from the French word *grippe* in the 18th century. The French word itself is believed to come from the verb *gripper*, meaning 'to seize' or 'to grip,' reflecting how the illness suddenly takes hold of a person.
First recorded: 18th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'gripe' y 'resfriado'?
'Gripe' (flu) is the term for influenza, which is typically a much more severe illness, often involving high fever and extreme body aches. 'Resfriado' (cold) refers to a milder common cold with symptoms mostly limited to the nose and throat.
Why does 'gripe' not follow the normal pattern for nouns ending in -e?
Many Spanish words borrowed from other languages or those shortened over time don't follow the typical gender rules. 'Gripe' inherited its feminine gender from its French origin, *la grippe*.