What it's NOT
gripe does NOT translate to gripe (enfermedad).
To say "gripe (enfermedad)" in English, use flu.
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False cognate · False friend
gripe
Does NOT mean gripe (enfermedad)
It means to complain / grumble
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
gripe means to complain / grumble.
Why it's confused
Spanish "gripe" is the flu, the viral respiratory illness. English "gripe" means to complain or grumble repeatedly about something. The flu in English is "flu."
How it's pronounced
gripeGRÁIP
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
Stop griping about the weather.
Spanish
Deja de quejarte del clima.
English
He's always griping about something.
Spanish
Siempre se está quejando de algo.
A trick to remember it
Gripe = to complain/grumble. The flu (Spanish "gripe") = flu.
Mini quiz
"Stop griping" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "gripe" mean in English?
"Gripe" means "to complain / grumble". It looks a lot like "gripe", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "gripe" in English?
To say "gripe" in English, use "flu". If you use "gripe" instead, you would actually be saying "to complain / grumble".
Do "gripe" and "gripe" mean the same thing?
Spanish "gripe" is the flu, the viral respiratory illness. English "gripe" means to complain or grumble repeatedly about something. The flu in English is "flu."
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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