Portuguese · Body & Health

"Flu" in Portuguese: gripe

a gripe

GREE-peefeminine · a gripenoun/ˈɡɾi.pi/

Flu in Portuguese is a gripe. Say estou com gripe when you have it. Vacina da gripe is the flu shot; gripe forte means a rough bout.

Calling work

Não vou hoje: estou com gripe e febre.

I’m not going today: I have the flu and a fever.

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How to pronounce gripe

Say it

GREE-pee

/ˈɡɾi.pi/

GREE-pee

"Flu" in Portuguese: quick reference

Portuguese	English	When to use
a gripe	the flu Default noun.	Default noun.
estar com gripe	to have the flu Symptom.	Symptom.
vacina da gripe	flu vaccine / flu shot Prevention.	Prevention.
gripe forte	a bad flu Intensity.	Intensity.

How to use gripe in real life

1Calling work
Não vou hoje: estou com gripe e febre.
I’m not going today: I have the flu and a fever.
Excuse.
2Clinic season
A vacina da gripe já está disponível no posto.
The flu vaccine is already available at the clinic.
Prevention.
3Roommate check-in
A gripe dele começou com dor no corpo.
His flu started with body aches.
Onset.

Mistakes English speakers make with gripe

Incorrect: Eu tenho flu.

Correct: Eu estou com gripe.

Use gripe, not English flu.

Incorrect: O gripe está forte.

Correct: A gripe está forte.

Gripe is feminine: a gripe.

Good to know

In Brazil gripe covers a wide range of winter viruses in everyday talk; doctors may still say influenza. Pharmacies push vacina da gripe before winter. People often stay home and drink lots of caldo.