Word
flu
US/ˈfɫu/
UK/flˈuː/
In Japanese
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definitions
01influenza
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Medicine
n. a common illness that gives you a fever, a headache, and makes your muscles ache.
n. an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Uncountable in general usage; often takes the definite article 'the'.
“I couldn't go to work because I had the flu and a high fever.”
“Public health officials urged vulnerable populations to receive their vaccinations before the flu season reached its peak in mid-winter.”
Usage
Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
Pitfall
I have a flu.
I have the flu.
In English, we almost always use 'the' with flu when talking about being sick.
Synonyms
02stomach illness
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine Informal
n. an illness that makes you feel sick to your stomach, often causing vomiting.
n. a colloquial term for gastroenteritis or similar digestive upsets, though medically distinct from influenza.
“Half the kids in the class were out last week with a stomach flu.”
“Although the patient described his symptoms as 'stomach flu', the physician suspected a bacterial infection from contaminated seafood.”
Teaching tip
Medical professionals prefer 'gastroenteritis' as 'flu' technically only refers to respiratory viruses.
Synonyms
Etymology
Clipping of influenza.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. diplomatic flu
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-2
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/flu
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0