resfriado y gripe
/resfɾjado i ɡɾipe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "cold and flu" is translated into Spanish as resfriado y gripe.
This phrase is used to refer to the group of respiratory infections caused by cold and flu viruses.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of resfriado (cold), y (and) and gripe (flu).
Which one should you use?
While resfriado y gripe is the standard order, it is also common to say gripe y resfriado to mean the same thing. Note that resfriado specifically refers to the common cold, whereas gripe refers to the more severe influenza.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using these nouns in a sentence, they typically require their respective definite articles: el for the masculine resfriado and la for the feminine gripe, forming el resfriado y la gripe.
How do you pronounce it?
/resfɾjado i ɡɾipe/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word gripe is actually a loanword from the French grippe, which originally meant 'to seize' because of the way the illness suddenly takes hold of a person.
- In many Spanish speaking cultures, resfriado is not just a virus but is often blamed on corrientes de aire or cold drafts that 'hit' the body.
- While English speakers often use 'cold' and 'flu' somewhat interchangeably in casual speech, a Spanish speaker will often strictly reserve gripe for cases involving a high fever.
Examples in context
- Tengo la gripeI have the flu
- Tengo un resfriadoI have a cold
- Tengo congestión nasal y dolor de gargantaI have nasal congestion and a sore throat
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking at the office.
- LucíaMateo, te ves muy cansado hoy.Mateo, you look very tired today.
- MateoCreo que tengo un resfriado y gripe.I think I have a cold and flu.
- LucíaDeberías ir al médico ahora mismo.You should go to the doctor right now.
- MateoTienes razón, Lucía, me voy a casa.You are right, Lucía, I am going home.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gripe, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
