Flu Season: Get a Grip(e)!
justitalianthings – FEBRUARY
Growing up in Texas, I was used to seeing flu season info sheets plastered everywhere, usually in both English and Spanish. That’s how I first learned that in Spanish, the flu is la gripe. In French? Same thing – la grippe. So when I moved to Italy, I assumed I’d encounter a similar word. Nope! Here, if you have the flu, you say Ho l’influenza. But since diagnostic flu tests aren’t super common in Italy, people often rely on the severity of symptoms alone to decide whether they have l’influenza or il raffreddore – basically, a common cold – which means the distinction can get blurry. More than once, I’ve had an Italian friend casually tell me in English, “I have the flu.” Cue my immediate alarm: Why are you here?! Go home! Only after further clarification did I realize they just had a minor cold, not the actual flu virus.
This little linguistic mix-up isn’t just a translation issue – it actually has historical roots. The English word influenza comes directly from Italian, where it was derived from the Medieval Latin influentia, meaning “influence.” This alludes to an old belief that diseases were caused by celestial forces – the “influence” of the stars. Italians have been using influenza broadly for centuries, applying it to various illnesses as early as 1357. Then, in 1580, a major respiratory outbreak spread across the globe, killing 8,000 people in Rome. Reports from Rome referred to the illness as influenza, and by the time the disease reached English-speaking regions, the name had stuck.
Over time, the English language refined influenza to refer to a specific viral infection. This is why, today, most English speakers use the shortened word flu to refer to a serious, highly contagious virus that knocks you down for days, if not weeks. Meanwhile in Italian, it remains a more general term for seasonal illness. So when an Italian says they have l’influenza, they might mean the flu virus – or they might just mean they’re feeling under the weather.
In either case, I’ve noticed that the home remedies for illness in Italy and the U.S. are practically identical – essentially, consume as much chicken soup, vitamin C, and hot tea with lemon and honey as humanly possible. But at a societal level, there’s one big difference that I didn’t expect: flu vaccine culture. In the U.S., public health campaigns encourage annual flu shots for almost everyone over six months old, so it’s not abnormal to see people of all ages rolling up their sleeves every fall alongside more vulnerable groups. In Italy, though, the approach is much more targeted. The flu vaccine is primarily recommended for healthcare workers, those with chronic conditions, and people over 60. Young kids or healthy adults? Not so much.
As for health etiquette, it’s practically second nature for U.S. Americans to cough and sneeze into our elbows to avoid spreading germs every time we open a door or shake someone’s hand. In Italy? The habit hasn’t fully caught on yet. Health practices are evolving, but many well-mannered Italians still cough and sneeze into their hands – so don’t be too surprised if you see it happen. Just wish them health (salute!) and maybe keep a mini hand sanitizer in your bag, just in case.
From etymology to health habits, these cultural differences between Italians and U.S. Americans are interesting to ponder as we (hopefully) wrap up flu season. In the meantime, whether you’re battling l’influenza or just il raffreddore this season, the basics still apply: wash your hands, get fresh air, stay hydrated, and do whatever you can to keep your immune system happy. If you start feeling sick, Umbra staff can help you schedule a doctor’s appointment. And of course, if an Italian friend tells you, “I have the flu,” maybe ask a few follow-up questions before panicking. Stay well!
Lindsey Elena Cottle, Umbra Intern