syphilis

noun see-fee-LEES Rare

Usage Note

Syphilis is the standard medical and everyday term for the sexually transmitted bacterial infection. It is always feminine and does not change in the plural. In historical contexts it was sometimes called la vérole or le mal français (a term used by other Europeans), illustrating how nations blamed each other for its spread. It is now treated with penicillin.

Examples

"La syphilis se traite avec des antibiotiques."

Natural Translation

Syphilis is treated with antibiotics.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Aller + Infinitive: The Easy French Future

Form the French near future in seconds: conjugate aller in the present and add an infinitive. Learn futur proche rules, negation, pronouns, and when to use it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

En, Au, Aux: French Prepositions for Countries

Use en for feminine countries, au for masculine, aux for plural, and à for cities. Full French preposition rule for countries, with a lookup table and traps.

June 4, 2026 5 min read