noun
flu
A2
Grippe: primarily 'flu', an acute viral illness often more severe than a cold. Feminine noun (die Grippe) with plural Grippen. Regular declension. No fixed preposition. Use articles and cases normally: die Grippe (Nom.), der Grippe (Dat./Gen. singular). Common medical term commonly.
Examples
Im Winter hatte ich eine schwere Grippe.
I had a bad case of the flu in winter.
Ich habe eine Grippe.
I have the flu.
Die Schule blieb geschlossen, weil viele Schüler an Grippe erkrankt waren.
The school remained closed because many pupils had contracted the flu.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone wrapped in a blanket with a thermometer labeled 'Grippe'.
Grippe sounds a bit like 'grip' — think a strong grip from coughing.
die Grippe — imagine 'die' like a hospital 'die' sign for patients (feminine).
Notes
Usually used for the influenza illness; often uncountable in everyday speech but plural 'Grippen' exists.