syph

1 9.9

An infection you can catch during sex that can cause serious health problems

noun
/sɪf/

Informal

: sífilis

In some circles, people still use the term syph for syphilis.

Examples

Don't ignore syph!
He was diagnosed with syph after showing unusual symptoms.
Medical workers warn that untreated syph can lead to serious complications.
He was diagnosed with syph last year.
After his diagnosis, he learned that syph can have serious long-term effects if left untreated.
She was relieved when the doctor confirmed that her syph test came back negative.
It's important to get tested regularly because early treatment for syph can help prevent complications.

Synonyms

syphilis

vssyph

Specialized

45 4.8

An infection you can catch by sex, caused by bacteria, that can harm you and your baby if not treated

is the informal short form used instead of the full medical name

lues venerea

vssyph

Archaic

9.9

A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that can damage many body parts and pass from mother to baby

is the informal abbreviated modern form rather than the older medical term

lues

vssyph

Archaic

9.9

A serious disease spread by sex that causes long-term health problems

is the informal short form used today rather than the historical name

French disease

vssyph

Offensive

9.9

An old name for syphilis, an infection spread by sex

is the casual abbreviation used in modern speech rather than historical euphemism

Cupid's disease

vssyph

NSFW

9.9

An old name for syphilis, a disease you get by sex

is the informal modern short form rather than a quaint euphemistic phrase

Surface Forms

syph singular

syphs plural

Etymology

Syph is an informal short form of syphilis, which means 'a sexually transmitted infection'. The full name syphilis comes from a 16th-century poem about a man called Syphilus who caught the disease, so syph simply means the same infection.