Inklingo
← Dictionary

virus

/BEE-roos/

virus

A bright red, spiky, spherical microscopic virus floating in a blue background, depicted in a simple storybook style.

A visual representation of a microscopic infectious agent, often called a virus.

virus(noun)

mA2

virus

?

microscopic infectious agent

Also:

germ

?

general term for illness cause (less precise)

📝 In Action

El resfriado común es causado por un virus.

A2

The common cold is caused by a virus.

Los médicos están buscando una vacuna contra el nuevo virus.

B1

Doctors are looking for a vaccine against the new virus.

Este virus se propaga muy rápidamente en el aire.

B1

This virus spreads very quickly through the air.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • microbio (microbe)
  • patógeno (pathogen)

Common Collocations

  • contraer un virus – to catch a virus
  • luchar contra el virus – to fight the virus

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Rule

Even though it ends in '-s', 'virus' is a masculine noun. Always use 'el virus' or 'un virus'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "La virus es peligrosa."

Correction: El virus es peligroso. (Remember to match the adjective ending to the masculine noun.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Plural

The word 'virus' does not change form in the plural. You only change the article: 'el virus' (one) becomes 'los virus' (many).

A small, menacing, green cartoon creature with sharp teeth aggressively biting a generic, gray computer screen icon, illustrating malicious software.

In technology, the word 'virus' refers to malicious software that attacks computer systems.

virus(noun)

mB1

computer virus

?

malicious software

Also:

bug

?

less formal for a software problem

,

destructive element

?

figurative sense (e.g., a virus of corruption)

📝 In Action

Necesito instalar un antivirus porque mi laptop tiene un virus.

B1

I need to install antivirus software because my laptop has a virus.

Ese rumor fue como un virus que dañó la reputación de la empresa.

C1

That rumor was like a virus that damaged the company's reputation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • malware (malware)
  • troyano (Trojan horse (type of virus))

Common Collocations

  • escanear por virus – to scan for viruses
  • eliminar el virus – to remove the virus

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

You can use 'virus' metaphorically to describe anything that spreads and causes harm, like bad ideas, corruption, or rumors.

⭐ Usage Tips

Antivirus Software

The software used to fight computer viruses is called 'antivirus' (often used as a noun: 'el antivirus').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: virus

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the plural form of 'virus'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

viral(viral) - adjective
antiviral(antiviral) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make 'virus' plural in Spanish?

The word 'virus' is one of those special Spanish nouns that doesn't change when you make it plural. You only change the article: 'el virus' (singular) becomes 'los virus' (plural). It stays masculine.

Is the word 'virus' pronounced differently in Spanish than in English?

Yes, slightly. In Spanish, the 'v' is usually pronounced like a soft 'b' sound, and the emphasis is on the first syllable: BEE-roos. The English pronunciation often emphasizes the 'v' sound.