noun
rubella
roo-BEL-uh
Rubella (noun) means a mild viral illness that causes a pink rash, a fever and swollen lymph nodes. Example: “The child stayed at home for a week with rubella.”
noun
1
medical A mild viral illness that causes a pink rash, a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
"The child stayed at home for a week with rubella."
"Rubella is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract."
"The doctor recognised the pink rash as a sign of rubella."
How to use rubella
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mild illness with a pink rash and fever, also called German measles.
When to use it
It is a standard medical term, though German measles is common in everyday speech.
Memory tip
Rubella is uncountable, so say rubella is rather than a rubella or rubellas.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
rubella virus
catch rubella
rubella rash
a case of rubella
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rubella.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The child stayed at home for a week with _____.
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.
Synonyms
View more →
German measles
three-day measles
Rhymes for rubella
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of rubella?
"rubella" (noun) means a mild viral illness that causes a pink rash, a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
