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virus

BEE-roosˈbiɾus

“virus” means “virus” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

virus

Also: germ
NounmA2
A bright red, spiky, spherical microscopic virus floating in a blue background, depicted in a simple storybook style.

📝 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

computer virus

Also: bug, destructive element
NounmB1
A small, menacing, green cartoon creature with sharp teeth aggressively biting a generic, gray computer screen icon, illustrating malicious software.

📝 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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "virus" in Spanish:

bug→computer virus→destructive element→germ→virus→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
lunespaís
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'virus' comes directly from Latin, where it originally meant 'poison,' 'venom,' or 'a noxious liquid.' Its use to describe a biological infectious agent is relatively recent, dating from the late 19th century.

First recorded: 19th century (in the modern biological sense)

Cognates (Related words)

English: virusFrench: virusItalian: virus

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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.