What does viral mean?
Word: Viral
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Viral means caused by a virus, like a viral fever or a viral cough. It is also used for a video or message that spreads very fast because lots of people share it online.
How do you spell viral?
Syllables: vi - ral
Tricky part: The first vowel says its name, as in ice, but it is written with a plain i. Vyral and vairal are the slips children make when they spell the sound.
Watch out for: vyral, vairal, vieral
Memory tip: Viral comes from virus, so it keeps the same first three letters, v-i-r. Only the ending changes.
Idioms and Phrases
- go viral: to spread very quickly online as people keep sharing it Example: "The clip of the dancing elephant went viral overnight."
Viral in a sentence
Example 1: A viral sore throat usually clears up on its own in a few days.
Example 2: Half my class was absent last week with a viral cough.
Example 3: Kofi's video of his parrot saying hello went viral in our neighbourhood group.
Fun Fact
The word virus comes from a Latin word that meant poison or a slimy liquid.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
vir_ _
a) el
b) ul
c) al
d) le
Show answer
c) al. It finishes the way animal and final do, with a and then l.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
The doctor said Samuel had a ______ infection, so he should rest and drink plenty of water.
a) vital
b) rival
c) viral
d) virtual
Show answer
c) viral. An infection caused by a virus is viral; vital means very important and rival means an opponent.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with viral?
a) moral
b) spiral
c) royal
d) feral
Show answer
b) spiral. Spiral ends with the same 'eye-rul' sound that viral has.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word in the given sentence:
Thanks to a viral photo, the lost puppy was back with its famly by the evening.
a) evening
b) puppy
c) viral
d) famly
Show answer
d) famly. Family has an i in the middle that is easy to skip when you say it fast.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A doctor would most likely call which of these viral?
a) a sunburn from the beach
b) a tired leg after a long walk
c) a sting from a honeybee
d) a cold caught from a friend
Show answer
d) a cold caught from a friend
2. Which sentence uses viral correctly?
a) We ate a viral lunch of rice and lentils at noon.
b) Please put the books back on the viral shelf.
c) The doctor said the rash was viral and would fade.
d) The viral bus left the stop at nine o'clock.
Show answer
c) The doctor said the rash was viral and would fade.
