viral
“viral” means “viral” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
viral
Also: trending
📝 In Action
El video de su gato se hizo viral en pocas horas.
A2Her cat video went viral in just a few hours.
Es difícil crear contenido viral a propósito.
B1It's difficult to create viral content on purpose.
Muchos influencers buscan el éxito viral.
B2Many influencers seek viral success.
viral
Also: virus-related
📝 In Action
Tengo una infección viral y necesito descansar.
B1I have a viral infection and I need to rest.
Los antibióticos no sirven para enfermedades virales.
B2Antibiotics don't work for viral illnesses.
La carga viral del paciente ha disminuido.
C1The patient's viral load has decreased.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: viral
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'to go viral' naturally in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'virus', which actually meant 'poison' or 'slimy liquid'. It was adapted into modern Spanish and English to describe germs and later, fast-spreading internet content.
First recorded: 19th century (medical context); 21st century (internet context)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'viral' used for computer viruses too?
While the germ and the internet video are both 'viral,' we usually call computer software a 'virus' (noun). We don't often use 'viral' to describe a computer being infected; we just say 'tiene un virus'.
Is 'viral' formal or informal?
It's neutral! You can use it in a doctor's office, a business meeting about marketing, or while chatting with friends on TikTok.
Does 'viral' change to 'virales' in plural?
Yes! If you are describing multiple things, add -es: 'Los videos virales'.