The Flu and a Cold
Why does “flu” get “the”, while “cold” gets “a”? It appears that you never say “a flu”.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Why does “flu” get “the”, while “cold” gets “a”? It appears that you never say “a flu”.
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"The Flu" refers to a specific disease, which is Influenza.
"A Cold" refers to one of a group of diseases which cause coughing, runny noses, etc. They are all "colds"; if you have one, you don't have "the cold" (the one and only Cold) you just have "a cold".
jeremiah1 Jan-21-2004
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Ah, but why do you have "the" disease at all? You don't get a cholera or the cholera. Just cholera.
PatriK Oct-30-2004
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jeremiah.
Then why don't you say, "the Influenza"?
Also, Influenza is also a goup of diseases.
henkvdm Oct-13-2005
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