rubella
2 synonyms for rubella, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A mild viral illness that causes a pink rash, a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
German measles
three-day measles
How to use rubella
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
rubella virus
catch rubella
rubella rash
a case of rubella
It is a standard medical term, though German measles is common in everyday speech.
Etymology
The word comes from Latin rubellus, meaning reddish, which is a diminutive of ruber, meaning red. The name refers to the red rash of the illness.
Full origin of rubella →Frequently asked questions
What is rubella?
Rubella is a mild disease caused by the Rubella virus. It is marked by a rash of pink dots, a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Is rubella the same as German measles?
Yes, German measles is another name for rubella. Three-day measles is also used.
Where does the word rubella come from?
It comes from Latin rubellus, meaning reddish, which is related to the Latin word for red.
