French word

grippe

Pronunciation

IPA/gʁip/

Meaning

  • feminine nounflu

Example

J'ai la grippe.

I have the flu.

Illustration for grippe (flu)

More examples

Il y a une épidémie de grippe cette année.

There is a flu epidemic this year.

Core concept

A sudden viral illness that grips the whole body with fever, chills, headache, and aches.

Common phrases

  • avoir la grippe

    have the flu

  • attraper la grippe

    catch the flu

  • vaccin contre la grippe

    flu vaccine

Similar words

rhume: A viral upper respiratory infection causing a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat.
fièvre: A symptom in which body temperature rises above normal.
toux: A cough caused by irritation of the throat or windpipe.
bronchite: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes causing a prolonged cough, phlegm, or shortness of breath.

Definition in French

Maladie virale causée par les virus influenza, caractérisée par une forte fièvre, des frissons, des maux de tête et des courbatures apparaissant souvent de façon brutale.

Word origin

French grippe was borrowed from German, from a root related to Old High German grīpan, "to seize," suggesting an illness that takes hold.

Usage tips

  • French normally uses the definite article in J'ai la grippe, while une grippe refers to a bout or case of flu.

Opposites

Related words

  • grippalflu-relatedadjective
  • grippéhaving the fluadjective
  • antigrippalanti-fluadjective

Word lists with this word